Washington, D.C.—Nevada Senator Harry Reid issued the following statement after Senator Frank R. Lautenberg announced he will not seek reelection in 2014, after three decades of service in the Senate representing the state of New Jersey:

“Few people have contributed as much to our nation and to the Senate as Frank Lautenberg. His life is a reflection of what America is all about. The son of Russian and Polish immigrants, Frank came from a working class background, spending much of his childhood moving frequently around New Jersey as his parents struggled to support the family. During World War II, Frank enlisted at the age of 18 to defend his country, and served with distinction in the European theatre. Through hard work and perseverance, Frank later rose to became one of the most successful businessmen in our nation, co-founding the company ADP and leading it as CEO.

“In the Senate, Frank has had a remarkable career. He protected women and children from gun violence by winning passage of legislation to prohibit convicted domestic abusers from owning firearms. The millions of Americans who travel and work on airplanes can thank Frank for not having to fear the effects of second-hand smoke, after Frank secured passage of the smoking ban on airplanes. Frank’s accomplishments would take a long time to list, but through these two alone, Frank’s work has saved countless lives.

“Frank will serve two more years in this body, but he will leave a void on the day he retires. Our nation owes a great debt to Frank for his outstanding service. I wish him and his wife, Bonnie, all the best.”