Sen. Robert Byrd becomes longest-serving lawmaker in congressional history

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West Virginia Sen. Robert C. Byrd’s tenure as the longest-serving lawmaker in congressional history was marked today with praise but questions about the senator’s health.

“I look forward to serving you for the next 56 years and 320 days,” the Democratic senator said in a statement marking the occasion. It was unknown if Byrd would be able to attend today’s Senate session.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid took to the floor this morning to praise Byrd’s career.

“Friday is his 92nd birthday. And next week, Byrd writes in his weekly column, should be about Thanksgiving,’ Reid said in televised remarks.

“What does he give thanks for this year? The privilege, he writes, of representing ‘our great people in the United States Senate,’” Reid said.

Since June 12, 2006, Byrd has been the longest-serving senator. Later that year, he was elected to an unprecedented ninth term, Reid said. Byrd has cast more than 18,000 votes and “despite fragile health that has kept him from the Senate floor during much of this year, has a nearly 98% attendance record over the course of his career,” Reid noted.

Byrd’s career has spanned 20,774 days. On Tuesday, Byrd tied the record set by Carl Hayden (D-Ariz.), who served in the House, then the Senate, from 1912 to 1969.

-- Michael Muskal
Twitter.com/LATimesmuskal