This resolution honors the life and legislative legacy of former Michigan Senator Donald W. Riegle, Jr., recognizing his decades of public service and key accomplishments.
Gary Peters
Senator
MI
This resolution honors the life and extensive public service of the late Honorable Donald W. Riegle, Jr., former Senator for Michigan. It recognizes his decades in Congress, highlighting key legislative achievements such as co-sponsoring the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and leading significant banking reforms. The Senate expresses its profound sorrow and adjourns in his memory.
Senate Resolution Honors Three-Decade Legacy of Michigan Senator Donald W. Riegle, Jr.
This resolution serves as a formal tribute to the life and career of Donald W. Riegle, Jr., who spent nearly 30 years representing Michigan in both the House and the Senate. It isn't a new law or a tax change; instead, it is an official 'moment of silence' in legislative form, documenting Riegle’s transition from a 28-year-old Republican congressman in 1966 to a prominent Democrat who broke with his party over the Vietnam War and civil rights. The text specifically directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit these honors to the Riegle family and ensures the Senate adjourns in his memory.
A Legacy in Your Wallet
While this is a commemorative document, it highlights how Riegle’s work still hits your bank account today. The resolution notes his role in co-sponsoring the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974, the law that made it illegal for banks to deny you a credit card or loan just because of your sex or marital status. It also points to the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994. If you’ve ever used a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) to get a small business loan in an underserved area, or if you’ve benefited from the consumer protections required for high-rate home equity loans, you’re seeing his legislative fingerprints in action.
Beyond the Boardroom
The resolution also maps out Riegle’s impact on blue-collar stability and veteran health. It credits his leadership during the 1979 Chrysler bailout—a move that saved thousands of Michigan manufacturing jobs—and his 1994 investigation into the mysterious illnesses reported by Gulf War veterans. By documenting these specific actions, the Senate is acknowledging a career that prioritized practical intervention in the lives of workers and soldiers. For the everyday citizen, this resolution acts as a historical record of how a single representative’s long-term committee work can eventually shape national standards for everything from flood insurance to healthcare for the uninsured.