WASHINGTON - August 26 - "Senator Kennedy was a hero of mine both before and after I came to the United States Senate. Senator Kennedy was one of the greatest Senators in American history and serving alongside him in the Senate is one of the great honors of my life. His unyielding dedication to equality, justice and improving the lives of his fellow citizens was unmatched and his loss is immeasurable. He championed civil rights and worked to expand the rights of voters and working Americans. Children are healthier and young Americans have more educational opportunities because of Senator Kennedy's decades of service. And we will achieve real health care reform thanks to the groundwork he laid. Senator Kennedy's legacy will live on in the Americans who walk through doorways he opened through his lifetime of countless achievements. Like the millions upon millions of Americans whose lives he touched, I am deeply saddened by his passing and my thoughts are with his family during this difficult time."