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Former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson Dies at 93

The Wyoming Republican, known for his bipartisanship, humor, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, leaves behind a legacy of public service and bridge-building.

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In this July 2022 photo, President Joe Biden presents former Sen. Alan Simpson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC.
U.S. President Joe Biden awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson (R-WY) during a ceremony in the East Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 7, 2022.
FILE - President Joe Biden awards the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to former Wyoming Sen. Alan Simpson at the White House in Washington, July 7, 2022. Simpson has died at age 93. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Overview

  • Alan Simpson, a former U.S. senator from Wyoming who served from 1979 to 1997, passed away at age 93 following complications from a broken hip sustained in December.
  • Simpson was a prominent moderate Republican, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, abortion rights, and immigration reform, including his key role in the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act.
  • He was known for his bipartisan approach, forming lasting friendships across party lines and serving as co-chair of President Obama's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform in 2010.
  • Simpson's humor, integrity, and dedication to public service earned him widespread respect, culminating in the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President Biden in 2022.
  • A lifelong advocate for Wyoming, Simpson also contributed significantly to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, serving on its board for over five decades.