WASHINGTON (November 18, 2009)—West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd said Wednesday he's looking forward to the next 56 years and 320 days, which is how long he's served in the House and Senate.

Byrd became the longest-serving lawmaker in congressional history Wednesday.

In the first of a series of tributes on the Senate floor today, Majority Leader Harry Reid predicted that many of the records Byrd has set will never be passed.

The Democrat’s career in Washington began in 1952, when he was elected to the House.

Six years later, he moved to the Senate, where he's been elected to nine terms,

He's held more leadership positions than any senator in history and cast more than 18,000 votes.

Despite fragile health in recent years, he's maintained a career attendance record of nearly 98 percent.

Byrd has been around long enough to rescind positions he once trumpeted, such as his opposition to the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

He's voiced regret over joining the Ku Klux Klan decades ago, and he's cheered the election of the nation's first black president.

Byrd turns 92 on Friday.