HARTFORD--U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) today applauded Senate passage of a resolution introduced by Murphy and Blumenthal honoring the late Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr, who died on June 28 after a long career in public service.

“Lowell Weicker put his principles, his convictions, and his commitment to his constituents above every other political consideration. Throughout his long, storied tenure as an elected official, he led his life by one simple axiom: do what is right. Getting to know him in his later years will go down as one of the greatest pleasures of my life, and I can only hope to be half the leader he was,” said Murphy.

“Lowell Weicker was a larger than life, historic figure in American public service. He led by example, standing up and speaking out with conscience and conviction for social justice and the rule of law. As state Attorney General, I worked with him for four years when he was Governor of Connecticut— deeply impressed by his courage and commitment to public service. He fought fearlessly and worked tirelessly for what he thought was right, and he did immense good for Connecticut. I’m proud to stand with my colleague Senator Murphy in honoring his legacy, lasting and large,” said Blumenthal.

Weicker served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 and was elected to the House of Representative in 1968, serving Connecticut’s fourth Congressional district. After one term, he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1970 and served until 1989. Weicker served on the Senate Watergate Committee, where he was the first Republican senator to call for the resignation of President Richard Nixon, an act of political courage and dedication to public service. He was an early and strong advocate in the Senate for the Americans with Disabilities Act and was a strong advocate for protecting public health.

Following his tenure in the Senate, Weicker was elected to serve as Connecticut’s 85th Governor, where he secured the passage of a state income tax that, while unpopular, balanced the budget of the state, and signed many laws that improved the quality of life for residents of the State, including a ban on military-style assault rifles for the first time in Connecticut history.

After leaving public office, Lowell P. Weicker, Jr. continued his work to improve the public health, founding Trust for America’s Health, a nonprofit working on disease prevention, and serving as the president of the organization from 2001 through 2011.

The resolution was introduced and passed the Senate by unanimous consent on Wednesday.

###