WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that their resolution honoring the late Minnesota Senator David Durenberger passed the Senate with bipartisan support.
Klobuchar and Smith delivered remarks on the Senate floor to honor Senator Durenberger. Video of Klobuchar’s floor remarks are available for TV download HERE and for online viewing HERE. Video of Smith’s floor remarks can be found HERE.
“Senator David Durenberger was a true public servant and dedicated legislator who was always guided by his devotion to bipartisanship and helping Minnesotans. Through his leadership on the Americans with Disabilities Act, David helped usher in a whole new era of disability rights and changed millions of lives for the better,” said Klobuchar. “Even after David left the Senate, he found new ways to improve people’s lives through his work on health care, his teaching, and his mentorship. Our resolution will honor Senator Durenberger’s remarkable life and legacy of service to our state and country.”
“If I had to name one thing that characterized Dave Durenberger, it was his determination to find solutions to the problems that hold people back in their lives, especially problems with health care. He didn’t care whether an idea came from Republicans or Democrats, he cared about whether it would make a difference,” said Smith. “As we mourn the loss of Senator Durenberger, let us take inspiration from his example of a thoughtful, pragmatic, results-oriented politics. Archie and I send all our support to the Durenberger family – may his memory be a blessing.”
Last week, Klobuchar delivered an eulogy at Durenberger’s funeral at his alma mater of St. John’s University.
Full text of the resolution is available HERE and below:
Whereas David F. Durenberger—
- was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, in 1934;
- graduated from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, and the University of Minnesota Law School; and
- practiced law in St. Paul, Minnesota;
Whereas David F. Durenberger served in the Army from 1956 to 1963;
Whereas David F. Durenberger was first elected to the Senate in 1978 and was reelected in 1982 and 1988;
Whereas David F. Durenberger was the lead Republican sponsor in the Senate of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.), which prohibits discrimination based on disability in everyday activities;
Whereas, while serving in the Senate, David F. Durenberger secured protections for Minnesota’s natural treasures, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Voyageurs National Park, the Mississippi River, and parks and trails throughout the Twin Cities;
Whereas David F. Durenberger worked with the late Senator Paul Wellstone and a bipartisan coalition of Senators to secure the passage of the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–82; 107 Stat.785), which established the Corporation for National and Community Service (commonly known as ‘‘AmeriCorps’’);
Whereas David F. Durenberger served the Senate as Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence during the 99th Congress;
Whereas David F. Durenberger continued to work to improve access to health care after leaving office as chair of the National Institute of Health Policy and as a senior health policy fellow at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul; and
Whereas David F. Durenberger is survived by his wife of 27 years, Susan Foote, as well as his 4 sons, 2 stepchildren, and 14 grandchildren: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That—
- the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of David F. Durenberger, former member of the Senate;
- the Senate directs the Secretary of the Senate to communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives and transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of David F. Durenberger; and
- when the Senate adjourns today, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late David F. Durenberger.
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