U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd dies at 92

Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-West Virginia,  died at 3 a.m. Monday, June 28, 2010 at Inova Fairfax Hospital, his office announced. He was 92.

Byrd was the longest-serving member of Congress in history. He was hospitalized last week with what was thought to be heat exhaustion, but more serious issues were discovered, aides said Sunday. No formal cause of death was given.

Starting in 1958, Mr. Byrd was elected to the Senate an unprecedented nine times. 

From his U.S. Senate website, Byrd's biographical information includes the following:

"In every corner of West Virginia, the people of the Mountain State know that there is one man on whom they can always depend:  U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd.  He has always remained true to his faith and his family, while working to build a better future for his state and his country.

  In the Senate, Robert Byrd works for the people - better jobs; health care that is affordable and close to home; a good future for our children and grandchildren. Each day in the Senate, Robert Byrd is focused on building a brighter future for the Mountain State.

  Over the years, thousands of new jobs have been created because of Senator Byrd=s initiatives. New industries have taken root - biometrics; aerospace research; advanced manufacturing; computer research; defense innovations. And traditional industries - coal and energy, chemicals, steel - continue to serve as the economic backbone of our communities. 

  Byrd has worked hard to expand access to health care for tens of thousands of West Virginians. The Health Sciences Center and the Jon Michael Moore Trauma Center, both at West Virginia University, the Center for Rural Health at Marshall University, and the West Virginia School for Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg are utilizing innovation to bring doctors and nurses closer to people in rural West Virginia.  

In the halls of Congress, Robert C. Byrd is best known for his fierce defense of the Constitution and the institution of the Senate. The Almanac of American Politics has stated that Byrd "may come closer to the kind of senator the Founding Fathers had in mind than any other."  Senators from both parties have paid tribute to Byrd=s devotion to the Constitution.  He endeavors to make sure that the wisdom of the Constitution's Framers is not forgotten and that the people=s liberties are protected.

On June 12, 2006, Byrd became the longest serving U.S. Senator in the history of our Nation and, in November 2006, he was elected to an unprecedented ninth full term in the Senate.  But it was on November 18, 2009 that Senator Byrd became the longest serving member of Congress in the history of our great Republic, having served more than 20,775 days."

Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-West Virginia, died at 3 a.m. Monday, June 28, 2010 at Inova Fairfax Hospital, his office announced. He was 92.

Byrd was the longest-serving member of Congress in history. He was hospitalized last week with what was thought to be heat exhaustion, but more serious issues were discovered, aides said Sunday. No formal cause of death was given.

Starting in 1958, Mr. Byrd was elected to the Senate an unprecedented nine times. 

From his U.S. Senate website, Byrd's biographical information includes the following:

"In every corner of West Virginia, the people of the Mountain State know that there is one man on whom they can always depend: U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd.  He has always remained true to his faith and his family, while working to build a better future for his state and his country.

  "In the Senate, Robert Byrd works for the people - better jobs; health care that is affordable and close to home; a good future for our children and grandchildren. Each day in the Senate, Robert Byrd is focused on building a brighter future for the Mountain State.

  "Over the years, thousands of new jobs have been created because of Senator Byrd's initiatives. New industries have taken root - biometrics; aerospace research; advanced manufacturing; computer research; defense innovations. And traditional industries - coal and energy, chemicals, steel - continue to serve as the economic backbone of our communities. 

  "Byrd has worked hard to expand access to health care for tens of thousands of West Virginians. The Health Sciences Center and the Jon Michael Moore Trauma Center, both at West Virginia University, the Center for Rural Health at Marshall University, and the West Virginia School for Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg are utilizing innovation to bring doctors and nurses closer to people in rural West Virginia.  

"In the halls of Congress, Robert C. Byrd is best known for his fierce defense of the Constitution and the institution of the Senate. The Almanac of American Politics has stated that Byrd "may come closer to the kind of senator the Founding Fathers had in mind than any other." Senators from both parties have paid tribute to Byrd's devotion to the Constitution. He endeavors to make sure that the wisdom of the Constitution's Framers is not forgotten and that the people's liberties are protected.

"On June 12, 2006, Byrd became the longest serving U.S. Senator in the history of our Nation and, in November 2006, he was elected to an unprecedented ninth full term in the Senate. But it was on November 18, 2009 that Senator Byrd became the longest serving member of Congress in the history of our great Republic, having served more than 20,775 days."