ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- As the United States House of Representatives gaveled in for the first time without late Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, both of her Senate counterparts were in upstate New York, speaking with reporters about the long-time Democratic lawmaker.
"Louise Slaughter was an icon here in New York State," said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York. "She's somebody who served for decades, bravely, courageously with unbelievable leadership and strength."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said she was known for her integrity and authenticity.
"Louise could smell a phony a mile away and she'd call him or her out for being a phony and people loved it because she was so genuine," said Schumer, D-New York.
While her death leaves a vacancy in New York's 25th District, Gillibrand said honoring Slaughter's life remains the priority.
"There will be memorial services and we will honor her legacy appropriately over the next weeks and months and I'm sure we will have a replacement soon enough," she said.
Gillibrand, Schumer and the governor's office are all pushing for her to be commemorated in another way too. They've requested Amtrak name the new Rochester train station after the congresswoman. The company said it's discussing the proposal and analyzing potential next steps.
"She always believed in high-speed rail and wants to make rail service in our state faster and better so I thought of no better way to honor her than naming the rail station after her," Gillibrand said.
The Louise & Bob Slaughter Foundation has also been established to support causes that were close to the congresswoman and her late husband. Her family is asking for contributions in lieu of flowers.
“I spoke to her daughter and everyone agreed she had a great life and she had said she wanted to be carried out of the job in a pine box, that she wasn't retiring," Schumer said.
The governor has directed flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Friday in her honor.
“Louise M. Slaughter was a pioneer who truly made Rochester her home, and was instrumental in leading numerous improvement projects to the state of New York, including the Rochester Station. We have received Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, and former Mayor and [former] Lieutenant Governor Duffy’s request to rename the station in her honor. Amtrak is discussing this proposal and analyzing potential next steps on how we can commemorate Congresswoman Slaughter’s impact on the Station and legacy in the city of Rochester and New York.”
There's also a memorial for Slaughter outside the Susan B. Anthony House on Madison Street in Rochester. Signs thank the congresswoman for her hard work and dedication to change. Slaughter was known to admire the suffragette, often saying she's privileged to represent the area where Susan B. Anthony lived and fought for women's rights.