WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today released the following statement regarding Senator Frank R. Lautenberg's announcement that he will not seek re-election:

"I congratulate Senator Frank Lautenberg on the commencement of his two-year mission to robustly complete his service to the people of New Jersey in the United States Senate. As we are both sons of immigrant parents, I know that Frank Lautenberg has always known what it means to pursue the American dream and to keep that dream alive for his fellow Americans. New Jerseyans have always known Frank for his straight talk and hard work. His legislative accomplishments are many and some - such as prohibiting domestic violence offenders from possessing guns, and stopping federal aid to terrorist nations - have been ground breaking. I look forward to working with him during the next two years to add to those accomplishments."