WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) announced that she will not seek re-election in 2016:

“Sen. Boxer is one of the great senators of our time and I am sorry that this will be her last session in Congress. She has played an especially vital role in protecting our environment. In one critical area above all others, history will judge her as a pioneer in efforts to get Congress to heed the warnings from scientists that we must act boldly to address the planetary crisis of global warming.

“I have been proud to serve under Chairman Boxer on the Senate environment committee. She is a good friend and an able ally who I look forward to working with during the coming session of Congress on our mutual goal of leaving our children and grandchildren a safer, cleaner planet than we inherited.”