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handle is hein.crs/govellr0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service nforming the legislitive diebate since 1914 0 May 1, 2023 Senators Who Die In Office: History and Current Practices Since 1789, 301 Senators have died in office. When a sitting Member dies, the Senate and House of Representatives carry out a number of actions based in part on chamber rules, statutes, long-standing practices, and other variables extant at the time of the Senator's demise. Some congressional practices related to the death of a sitting Member predate the national legislature established by the Constitution. On October 23, 1775, the Continental Congress, sitting in Philadelphia, was informed that Peyton Randolph, a Delegate from Virginia and President of the Continental Congress, had died the day before, and resolved that its Members would attend the funeral and observe a month's mourning. During the First Congress (1789-1791), the first instance of the death of a sitting Senator occurred. Senator William Grayson of Virginia died on March 12, 1790. In the 19th century, Congress adopted the practice of paying some of the expenses of funeral services for sitting Senators. Services were sometimes held in the Senate chamber. When services or interments were not held in Washington, DC, it was the practice of both chambers to appoint a committee of Members to escort the remains of a deceased colleague to their final destination. In contemporary times, Senate rules and statutes set out some of the congressional response to the death of a sitting Senator. Some long-standing observances, such as adjourning briefly as a mark of respect to the deceased, appointing Member delegations to attend funerals of deceased colleagues, or paying the costs of a funeral from public funds, may be employed. It appears that contemporary congressional response is affected by a number of external factors, including the following: circumstances of the Member's death; preferences of the deceased Member, or the Member's family, regarding funeral services; whether Congress is in session when the Member dies; pending congressional business at the time of the Member's death; and events external to Congress. Consequently, a congressional response to the death of a sitting Member could be characterized as a set of actions that are determined in detail at or around the time of the death, in response to an array of factors. Generally, these actions fall into five categories: floor announcement or acknowledgment; resolution of condolence; funeral; deceased Member's office, staff, and survivor benefits; and publication of memorials. floor Announcement or Acknowledgment of a Senator's Death When the Senate is in session, news of the passing of a sitting Senator is often widely known when the chamber meets, so a formal floor announcement is generally not made. The death of a sitting Senator has been acknowledged on the Senate floor in prayers offered by the chaplain, through tributes offered by other Senators, and through consideration of a resolution of condolence. The Senate has continued with other business, or adjourned after acknowledging a Senator's demise. When it does adjourn, the chamber has typically done so as a mark of further respect to the late Senator. Exceptions to this practice arise when news of the death of a Senator reaches the Senate while it is meeting. In those circumstances, including the deaths of Senator Paul Coverdell of Georgia on July 18, 2000, and Senator Quentin Burdick of North Dakota on September 8, 1992, the majority leader made an announcement. Senator John Sidney McCain III died on August 25, 2018, and was the most recent Senator to die while serving in office. No formal announcement of his passing was made in the Senate. When the Senate came into session on August 27, Senator Mitch McConnell, then Majority Leader, offered a tribute, followed by then-Minority Leader Charles Schumer, who also offered a tribute, before the Senate moved on to other business. Throughout the day, several Senators offered additional tributes, among other chamber activity. Senator McCain lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda on August 31, 2018. Another recent example of a Senator dying while in office is Senator Frank Raleigh Lautenberg, who died on June 3, 2013. No formal announcement of his passing was made in the Senate. When the Senate met that day, the chaplain mentioned Senator Lautenberg in the opening prayer. Majority Leader Harry Reid asked for a moment of silence and also offered a tribute. Throughout the day, as regular business proceeded, several Senators offered tributes. Senator Lautenberg lay in state in the Senate on June 6, 2013. Since at least 1807, Senators who have died during periods of recess or adjournment have been acknowledged when the Senate reconvened. The most recent sitting Senator to die during a recess was Senator Edward Moore (Ted) Kennedy of Massachusetts, who died on August 25, 2009. When the

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