U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today mourned the passing of former Congressman William Hughes (D-NJ-02).

“Bill Hughes was a total gentleman. Bill’s work ethic was a legend that carried from Cape May in his district all the way up to Paterson.  I’ve always regretted that I did not have a chance to serve besides Bill in the House. Bill was from the old school: he could work with anybody and was responsive first and always to the regular people he represented. So it was no surprise that President Clinton selected Bill for the great honor of representing our nation abroad as an Ambassador. His efforts to protect New Jersey’s beautiful coastline from development and pollution is an example I still look up to to this day. I’m going to miss Bill.”