Washington (CNN) – The body of Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, will lie in repose in the U.S. Senate chamber on Thursday, two Senate aides familiar with the plans told CNN.
Byrd, the longest-serving member of the U.S. Congress, died Monday. He was 92. Byrd served for six years in the House before moving to the Senate, where he served nine terms.
Byrd will lie in repose in a closed casket from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, a senior Senate aide said. Senators and others will be asked to be in the chamber at 10:30 a.m., when Senate chaplain Barry Black will give a prayer.
Washington (CNN) - West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant announced Monday afternoon that there will be no election this year to fill the remaining time in the term of the late Sen. Robert Byrd, ending hours of speculation. Tennant said the election will take place in 2012.
Byrd, 92, died early Monday. The nine term Democrat, who served for six years in the House prior to his move to the Senate, was the longest serving member ever in Congressional history.
But the timing of Sen. Robert Byrd's death contributed to confusion about filling the remainder of his term.
Under West Virginia law, Gov. Joe Manchin has the power to appoint a successor. Since Manchin, a popular two-term governor, is also a Democrat, it's expected he will name a fellow member of his party to succeed Byrd, thereby keeping Democrats' caucus in the Senate at 59 seats.
That was the easy part. Here's where it gets confusing.
During an event in Kentucky, Vice President Biden paid tribute to Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, who passed away early Monday morning.
(Read Biden's remarks after the jump)
FULL POST
Sen. Byrd "was born into wrenching poverty," President Obama said Monday, "but educated himself to become an authoritative scholar, respected leader, and unparalleled champion of our Constitution." (Photo Credit: Getty Images/File)
President Obama issued a statement Monday about the death of Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia.
(Read Obama's full statement after the jump)
Washington (CNN) - The timing of Sen. Robert Byrd's death is contributing to confusion about filling the remainder of his term.
Under West Virginia law, Gov. Joe Manchin has the power to appoint a successor. Since Manchin, a popular two-term governor, is a Democrat, it's expected he will name a fellow member of his party to succeed Byrd, who was also a Democrat, thereby keeping Democrats' caucus in the Senate at 59 seats.
But questions surround how long Byrd's appointed successor would serve before another election is held.
Washington (CNN) - Colleagues of Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia mourned his death as family and friends planned his funeral.
Byrd, the longest-serving member of the U.S. Congress, died Monday at the age of 92.
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin, a Democrat like Byrd, will appoint his replacement.
Read the reactions of Byrd's colleagues after the jump.
Washington (CNN) - West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd, the self-educated son of a coal miner who became the longest-serving member of Congress, died early Monday at age 92, the senator's office said.
Byrd, a nine-term Democrat, was known as a master of the chamber's often-arcane rules and as the self-proclaimed "champion of the Constitution," a jealous guardian of congressional power.
His speeches were laced with references to poetry and the Greek and Roman classics, often punctuated by the brandishing of his pocket copy of the national charter.
He was also known as the "King of Pork," using top positions on the Senate Appropriations Committee to steer federal spending to his home state - one of the nation's poorest.
Byrd relished the title.
Washington (CNN) - Sen. Robert Byrd, the 92-year-old Democrat from West Virginia who is the longest-serving Congress member in history, has been hospitalized in serious condition, his office said Sunday.
Byrd was admitted to a Washington area hospital last week and his condition is "seriously ill," according to the statement by his office.
Initially thought to be suffering from heat exhaustion and severe dehydration, Byrd was expected to remain in hospital for "not more than a few days," the statement said.
"However, upon further examination by his doctors, other conditions have developed which has resulted in his condition being described as 'serious,' " the statement concluded.
Updated: 3:35 p.m.
Washington (CNN) - Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, announced Wednesday that he would support an amendment to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for gay and lesbian servicemembers after securing a change that would delay implementation of the repeal for 60 days after certification of a military review.
Washington (CNN) – Sen. Robert Byrd will become the longest-serving member of Congress Wednesday, having logged a staggering 20,774 days representing his home state of West Virginia in either the U.S. House or Senate.
Most of Byrd's tenure in federal office has been in the U.S. Senate, where he will have served 18,583 days, from January 3, 1959, through Wednesday. He became that body's longest-serving member in June 2006, surpassing the record previously held by the late Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina.
The West Virginia Democrat also served a total of 2,191 days, from January 3, 1953, to January 3, 1959, in the House of Representatives
The late Carl Hayden, D-Arizona, held the previous record for longest total congressional service. Hayden served in the House and the Senate for a total 20,773 days, from February 12, 1912, to January 3, 1969.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Recent Comments