Minnesota Rep. Bruce Vento dead at 60

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Minnesota Rep. Bruce Vento, a 12-term liberal Democrat who championed environmental and homeless causes, died Tuesday after a bout with lung cancer.

Vento, who was diagnosed in February, died at 12:20 p.m. at his home in St. Paul, Minn., surrounded by his family, spokesman Rick Jauert said. He had malignant mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer caused by inhaling asbestos fibers.

Vento, who was 60, announced in February that he had cancer and would not seek re-election. His treatment included the removal of one lung, chemotherapy and radiation, but doctors discovered more cancer last month.

As a young man, Vento worked as a state-paid laborer in several St. Paul-area facilities that he claimed exposed him to asbestos fibers. Two weeks ago he filed a lawsuit against 11 companies that allegedly supplied or installed asbestos products at those job sites.

Vento made his most significant legislative contributions on environmental issues, which he called his "true passion."

"I have been a member of Congress for the past 24 years, dedicated to making the federal government work for the people, to do for our community and state -- and, yes, even internationally _ that which we cannot do for ourselves," Vento said in February. "The federal government can and should make a difference."

When Democrats controlled the House, Vento was chairman of the Natural Resources subcommittee on national parks, forests and lands for 10 years, pushing for more money for national parks and other environmental priorities.

"I think Bruce Vento has been one of the most impressive and effective congressmen in modern Minnesota history," said former Vice President Walter Mondale. "It's hard to think of an environmental issue where his leadership has not been found."

Vento worked on efforts to ban oil drilling on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and on preserving tropical rain forests. The Wilderness Society recognized Vento's work in 1994 with the Ansel Adams Conservation Award.

"He's been a hero," said Debbie Sease, legislative director for the Sierra Club. "He's done more for parks than anyone I know."

Vento also helped establish the emergency shelter grants program and preserve the Federal Housing Authority.

President Clinton paid tribute to Vento at a dinner in June for his environmental record and work on behalf of the homeless.

"He has steered into law more than 300 bills to protect our natural resources," Clinton said. "The thing I like even more about Bruce Vento is he cares about people, especially people without a voice -- the homeless."

Vento was born Oct. 7, 1940, in St. Paul and attended the University of Minnesota and Wisconsin State University. He worked as a science and social studies teacher before winning a seat to the state House in 1970. He was first elected to Congress in 1976.

For the last decade, Vento pushed a bill to make it easier for the Hmong -- an ethnic group in Laos_ who fought with U.S. forces during the Vietnam War to become U.S. citizens by waiving the English-language requirement for them.

After he was diagnosed with cancer, Vento made passage of the bill a top priority. His effort ended successfully when Congress approved the measure in May.

"This bill would have never been conceived or passed if it had not been for Bruce Vento," said Philip Smith, Washington director of Lao Veterans of America, which lobbied on behalf of the legislation.

"He reached across the aisle and worked and persevered to make this happen. He is our hero. He is a champion of the Hmong people."

Vento is the second member of Congress to die in the last month. Rep. Herbert Bateman, R-Va., died in September after battling lung and prostate cancer.

Vento is survived by his wife, Susan Lynch Vento, whom he married in August, and three sons.

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