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Bill would name new I-74 bridge for late US Rep. Lane Evans

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - A proposal in the Illinois House would name a new Interstate 74 bridge over the Mississippi River after the late U.S. Rep. Lane Evans.

Evans, who was from Rock Island, died Nov. 5 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. The Democrat was first elected to represent his western Illinois district in 1982 and served 12 terms.

The (Moline) Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1wHfZXy ) reports the bill is sponsored by Democratic state Rep. Pat Verschoore of Milan. He said naming the bridge after Evans would be a "nice tribute" for his work as a congressman.

"He was a great congressman who provided great constituent service," Verschoore said. "He served his country. I think we have a shot."

Evans, who joined the Marines at age 17, advocated for veterans' rights and for former service members with health problems. That included pushing legislation to help those who had been exposed to Agent Orange. He also became the senior Democrat on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.

He worked for more than a decade after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and he said in 2006 that he wouldn't run again for Congress because of his declining health.

The planned bridge would go between Moline and Bettendorf, Iowa. The bill could be taken up this week by the Illinois House's Transportation, Regulation, Roads and Bridges committee.

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Information from: The Dispatch, http://www.qconline.com

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