R ep. John Murtha, the tall, gruff-mannered former Marine who became the de facto voice of veterans on Capitol Hill and later an outspoken and influential critic of the Iraq War, died Monday. He died at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va., with his family at his bedside, the hospital said. Ethical questions often shadowed his congressional service, but he was best known for being among Congress' most hawkish Democrats. [1]

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement today on the passing of Congressman John Murtha: " The nation lost an advocate for peace. " I am deeply saddened by the passing of Congressman John Murtha, and my thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Murtha and her family at this difficult time. [2]