Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid praised Sen. Tom Harkin’s long career in Congress on Saturday after the five-term Iowa Democrat announced he won’t be seeking re-election in 2014.
“Tom is a passionate progressive, whose deeply-held principles have provided a guiding light to Democrats for decades,” Reid said in a statement released by his office. “The state of Iowa and the nation are better off because of his service.”
Read the entire statement:
Senator Tom Harkin is a pillar of the Senate, and our nation has been shaped in countless ways by his work in this institution.
Senator Harkin has been a champion for improving Americans’ access to affordable health care throughout his entire career, and Americans will continue to benefit from his commitment to preventive care. Senator Harkin’s work on behalf of people with disabilities has changed millions of lives and advanced the cause of equality for which he has fought tirelessly for decades. And his work combating child labor and human rights abuses will endure for years to come.
Tom is a passionate progressive, whose deeply-held principles have provided a guiding light to Democrats for decades. The state of Iowa and the nation are better off because of his service. Tom’s work in the Senate is not done yet, but I will miss him when he leaves. I wish him, Ruth and his family all the best.
