<div><p>Democratic Senator Robert Byrd becomes the longest-serving lawmaker in US history at midnight Wednesday, marking an unprecedented 20,774 days in office.</p><p>"From the bottom of my heart I thank each and every West Virginian for the support they have given me during this time, and for putting their trust and faith in me," he said in a statement when he tied the record on Tuesday.</p><p>"The only way for me to close on this historic day is to say that I look forward to serving you for the next 56 years and 320 days!" said Byrd, who by dint of his seniority is third in line for the US presidency.</p><p>The West Virginia Democrat, who turns 92 on Friday, is the oldest current senator and has served in the US Congress since January 3, 1953, first in the House of Representatives and then in the Senate.</p><p>Byrd, an enthusiastic backer of President Barack Obama's 2008 White House bid, has expressed regret for his past membership in the Ku Klux Klan and for his 14-hour, 13-minute participation in the 83-day filibuster to delay the 1964 Civil Rights Act.</p><p>Byrd, who became the longest-serving US Senator on June 12, 2006, broke the record for most Senate votes in April 1990 with 12,134, and as of October 1, 2009 had cast 18,569 votes in the Senate.</p><p>He is the only person ever elected to nine full Senate terms, and has the curious distinction of presiding over the shortest Senate session in US history: six tenths of a second, on February 27, 1989, according to the Senate Historian's office.</p><p>Byrd, who received his law degree in June 1963, sought but did not receive the Democratic presidential nomination in 1976.</p><p>His prowess at getting federal money for projects in his home state is legendary -- and many schools, bridges and other structures in West Virginia bear his name.</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=63630624&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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