U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, who served with Ted Kennedy in the U.S. Senate for nearly three decades, offered high praise of the legacy Kennedy has left behind today in an official statement:

The United States Senate will never be the same without Ted Kennedy. His presence was enormous. He fought hard, debated intensely and worked tirelessly for what he thought was right. Senator Kennedy and I had a different point of view on most every issue, but he was an ally like few others when he was on your side. Senator Kennedy leaves a legacy as a public servant and policy maker, and my wife Barbara joins me in sending our deepest sympathy to his family.