Senate-passed resolution honors late Sen. Arlen Specter

By Ramsey Cox - 12/11/12 10:31 AM ET

The Senate passed a resolution Monday evening honoring the life of the late Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.).

Specter died on Oct. 14, 2012, after battling brain tumors and cancer while serving in the U.S. Senate.

Specter was known for his bipartisan work. He switched parties toward the end of his career, saying the Republican Party had gotten too extreme. Specter then lost in the Democratic primary in 2010. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) replaced Specter in the Senate later that year.

The resolution, which passed by unanimous consent, expresses “profound sorrow at the death of the Honorable Arlen Specter” and conveys the condolences of the Senate to his family.

Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) introduced the resolution, and every member of the Senate was a co-sponsor.

The Senate also passed H.R. 3187, the March of Dimes Commemorative Coin Act, which was introduced by Rep. Robert Dold (R-Ill.), by unanimous consent. The bill instructs the secretary of the Treasury to mint a coin commemorating the anniversary of the March of Dimes Foundation.