Congressman Bart Stupak of Menominee will not seek reelection after more than 20 years in office, he announced Friday, April 9. Mr. Stupak served in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he chaired the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. He worked on such issues as nursing home safety, security at nuclear weapons labs, border security, food and drug safety, energy speculation, and discriminatory practices of the health insurance industry. Most recently, he played a role in the passage of the national health care law. In announcing his decision not to run again at Northern Michigan University in Marquette last week, Mr. Stupak explained he will retire to spend more time with his family.

President Barack Obama was among those who praised Mr. Stupak's service in Congress.

“...He has been a tireless advocate for hard working families across northern Michigan and for law enforcement officers and first responders across the nation. Michelle and I thank Congressman Stupak for his service and wish him and his family joy and success in their future endeavors,” President Obama said in a statement.

Democrats of the state commented on Mr. Stupak's departure, with some taken aback at his decision.

Senator Carl Levin noted Mr. Stupak's longevity of service.

“Bart Stupak is a public servant of great integrity and genuine conscience,” Senator Levin said. “I deeply regret his decision from a public perspective, but I also respect and understand his decision because of the longevity of his service and the tremendous sacrifice that his service has entailed for him and his family.”

“Bart Stupak has been a true champion for northern Michigan and Upper Peninsula families and a friend of mine for many years. I know he would have been successful had he sought reelection. His passion and dedication to public service have been tremendous assets to our entire state and will be deeply missed,” said U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow.

“He's [a] great campaigner and a great congressman and I'm stunned by all this,” Congressman Dale Kildee of Flint said. “He's a tireless person and we'll miss him very much and Michigan will miss him because he's a powerful position in Congress for us.”

Mr. Stupak began his work as a public servant in 1972, when he joined the Escanaba Police force. He later became a Michigan State Police trooper, but was injured on the job and retired in 1984. He then served in Michigan's First Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992 and won reelection every two years to 2008.

During his career, Mr. Stupak became a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which deals with aspects of legislation affecting Medicare, rural health care, energy availability, and energy prices.

On the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Mr. Stupak chaired the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. The subcommittee investigated matters such as food and drug safety and the sudden acceleration problems found in some Toyota vehicles.

With his experience in law enforcement, Mr. Stupak was placed on the Democratic Caucus Task Force on Homeland Security, and served in the subgroup Domestic Law Enforcement Working Group. In the subgroup, Mr. Stupak worked to train and equip law enforcement and first responders to be prepared for bioterrorism and other terrorist attacks.

Most recently, Mr. Stupak was among a group of lawmakers who were instrumental in securing an Executive Order from President Obama prohibiting federal funding to pay for abortion, a key point in the passage of the national health care reform law March 23. The move polarized Mr. Stupak's constituents and voters across the country.

Editor's note: In his Michigan Politics column on this page, George Weeks offers information about candidates who are likely to seek the Congressional seat.