Ailing Rep. William H. Natcher ended his historic 40-year string of consecutive votes in the House of Representatives Thursday, saying he will remain at Bethesda Naval Hospital for further treatment.
Natcher, who heads the powerful Appropriations Committee, "reluctantly decided" not to return to Capitol Hill after consulting with his physicians Thursday morning, according to a statement released by his office.His streak ended immediately after the House convened for business at 11 a.m. EST, when members were called to the floor for a procedural vote. It was the first
vote Natcher had missed since taking office in 1953.
He earned a place in the Guiness Book of World Records for never missing a vote in four decades in Congress. His record stands at 18,401 consecutive votes.
"Obviously this is a sad moment for all of us because of the unparalleled public service of Mr. Natcher," House Speaker Tom Foley, D-Wash., said in the chamber. He has achieved "a record I believe will stand forever."
Foley's comments elicited a standing ovation from House members.
The White House announced that President Clinton planned to visit Natcher at the hospital this afternoon.
The 84-year-old Kentucky Democrat, hooked to oxygen and intravenous tubes, left his hospital bed Wednesday to be wheeled onto the House floor on a gurney so he could keep his voting record alive.
No other member has anywhere near that mark, and Foley advises freshman lawmakers not to try matching it. It's OK to miss an occasional vote because of the strain of trying to maintain a perfect record, Foley tells them.