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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) issued the following statement after Congressman Fred Upton announced that he will retire at the end of his term: 

“For 35 years, Fred Upton has been a devoted public servant for Southwest Michigan and our nation. 

“Throughout his career, he has always put the people he served first. To him, ‘bipartisan’ and ‘compromise’ are not forbidden words. Fred knew well that if we are going to deliver real solutions for the American people, we need to come together and listen to all perspectives, no matter how complicated the issue may be. And it is because of that thinking that he was able to get so much done in Congress. 

“I am especially proud of all that we were able to accomplish together. Thanks to his partnership, we were able to pass legislation to protect our Great Lakes for future generations and lower the cost of healthcare for all Americans. Together, we have also championed removing harmful PFAS chemicals from our nation’s drinking water, and I am confident that we will get this legislation to President Biden’s desk. 

“While we may not have found harmony on every issue, Fred and I always managed to disagree without vitriolic rhetoric and mean-spirited language. Even through our toughest disagreements, Fred always found a way to make me laugh. It is his civility that I, and Congress, will miss most. 

“Fred is a dear friend to me and the Dingell family, and one of the greatest Michiganders to serve our country. I wish him, Amey, and their family all the best as they prepare for their next adventure.”