CA-12 Lantos Retiring

by: Julia Rosen

Wed Jan 02, 2008 at 10:29:39 AM PST

Lantos, 79, is the only Holocaust survivor elected to Congress and is known for his dedication to human rights issues. He is serving his 14th term as a House member.

"It is only in the United States that a penniless survivor of the Holocaust and a fighter in the anti-Nazi underground could have received an education, raised a family, and had the privilege of serving the last three decades of his life as a member of Congress," Lantos said in a statement. "I will never be able to express fully my profoundly felt gratitude to this great country."

I am sad to hear of Lantos's illness.  He has indeed lived a remarkable life, though I differ greatly from his hawkish positions with respect to Israel.

This does mean that there will not be a primary challenge in this district.  Jackie Speier had already announced that she would be running against Lantos.  I am bummed, that would have been a fun race and one that the blogosphere would have been heavily involved in.  Look for Sen. Leland Yee to also run for this seat.  It is not that often that there is an open House seat in the bay.  This is a deep blue district and it deserves to be represented by a progressive.  

"Routine medical tests have revealed that I have cancer of the esophagus. In view of this development and the treatment it will require, I will not seek re-election.

"It is only in the United States that a penniless survivor of the Holocaust and a fighter in the anti-Nazi underground could have received an education, raised a family, and had the privilege of serving the last three decades of his life as a Member of Congress. I will never be able to express fully my profoundly felt gratitude to this great country.

"Throughout my adult life I have sought to be a voice for human rights, civil liberties and social justice, both at home and around the world. My wife, Annette, and I look forward to continuing this vital work with purpose and verve every day for the remainder of my term.

"Annette is my full partner both in Congress and throughout my life; she has dedicated herself to promoting human rights, and she sustains me daily.

"I am fortunate beyond measure to be surrounded by loving family members, including two daughters and sons-in-law, 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren."

Tom Lantos was elected to Congress in 1980 and is in his 14th term in office. His Democratic colleagues elected him chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in January 2007. He is a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The only Holocaust survivor ever elected to Congress, Tom is the founding co-chairman of the 24-year-old Congressional Human Rights Caucus, for which Annette has directed as a volunteer since its inception.