When you know Frank Lautenberg’s life story you understand what’s behind all his accomplishments as our United States Senator.

You see how Senator Lautenberg has always stood strong by his principles to fight for what is right…why he works tirelessly to get results for New Jersey’s families…and how the laws he’s authored have made a real difference in our lives, our state and our nation.

Frank Lautenberg was born in Paterson, the son of immigrants who came through Ellis Island. His parents worked hard, but times were tough. So while still in high school Frank worked nights and weekends to help his family make ends meet. Frank has never forgotten what it’s like to struggle or the value of hard work.

Frank Lautenberg served his country in war and thanks to the GI Bill, earned an Economics degree from Columbia University. Along with two childhood friends, Frank saw an opportunity to change how businesses worked. They started ADP – one of the first and largest computing service companies in the world. Frank Lautenberg served as CEO of a trailblazing American business success.

After many successful years in the business world, Frank decided to dedicate himself to public service. He served as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, working to bolster New Jersey’s major transportation and shipping systems.

After his tenure on the Port Authority, the same brand of hard work, the same desire to put change to work, the same “get results” ethic earned Frank Lautenberg New Jersey’s support to represent us in the United States Senate.

As New Jersey’s Senator, Frank Lautenberg stood up to the gun lobby and wrote the law that stopped people convicted of domestic abuse from buying a gun – preventing over 150,000 guns from falling into the hands of domestic abusers. He led the fight to ban foreign aid to countries that sponsor terrorism. Senator Lautenberg helped write the Family Medical Leave Act that allows people take time off from work to care for a newborn or a sick family member. He’s a leader in the fight for stem cell research and is working to invest billions in cutting edge research to find cures for diseases like Juvenile Diabetes, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Frank Lautenberg has won hard fights and brought home funds to protect the Jersey Shore – today he’s standing up to the Bush Administration to stop oil drilling less than 100 miles from New Jersey’s shore. When a tanker ship spilled 250,000 gallons of oil into the Delaware River, Senator Lautenberg fought the oil companies to win stronger safety standards to prevent future spills. He’s also taken on corporate polluters to force them to pay to clean up their toxic messes. Now, Senator Lautenberg is a leader in the battle to protect our planet from global warming.

To protect New Jersey from the threat of terrorism, Senator Lautenberg has battled the Bush Administration and rural state Senators to make sure Homeland Security funds are distributed based on risk of terror attack – not politics. He’s fought to strengthen security and screening at our seaports, airports and chemical plants. When the Bush Administration failed to support the needs of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, Senator Lautenberg sponsored legislation to reimburse military families who are forced to buy their own body armor and other life-saving equipment. And Senator Lautenberg is outspoken in calling for a timetable to bring our troops home from the misguided war in Iraq and focusing our efforts on going after those who attacked us on 9/11.

Senator Lautenberg has written landmark laws that are making a real difference in our lives. He stood up to Big Tobacco and wrote the law to ban smoking on airplanes. He stood up to the liquor industry and wrote the law to get more drunk drivers off our roads. Senator Lautenberg worked to get cancer causing asbestos out of our schools.

Senator Lautenberg is the proud father of four and even prouder grandparent of ten. He is married to Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg, and resides in Cliffside Park.

Senator Lautenberg has built a record of uncommon accomplishment rooted in common sense. He stands up for his beliefs and he’s standing strong against powerful interests to take on problems that concern everyday famililes. And the best is yet to come.