Senator Lautenberg’s Casket To Lie In Repose In Senate Chamber

A second day of honors and remembrances of Senator Frank Lautenberg continues today in Washington D.C.

His casket was due to arrive at the Capitol early Thursday afternoon and lie in repose in the Senate chamber atop the Lincoln Catafalque, a bier built for the coffin of President Abraham Lincoln.

Upon arrival of the casket, the Senate chamber will be closed for about 15 minutes to give family members time alone. After that, senators and staffers will be allowed to pay their respects for about an hour before the public will be allowed to view the casket from the Senate gallery.

The late Robert Byrd of West Virginia was the last senator to be commemorated in the chamber. He died in 2010 at the age of 92.

Senate colleagues and family remembered the 5-term Senator from Paterson yesterday at a synagogue in New York.

Lautenberg's casket left the Lautenberg rail station after the funeral aboard an Amtrak train for his return to Washington. The 89-year-old was a strong supporter of the national rail system.

Lautenberg will buried Friday at Arlington National Cemetery.