Representative John Murtha, a long-serving Democratic and influential congressman, died Monday at the age of 77 after undergoing gall bladder surgery, local media reported.
Murtha had represented Pennsylvania's 12 District since 1974. He was a former Marine and a well-respected voice on military affairs. He held the powerful chairmanship of the House subcommittee for defence appropriations, dpa reported.
Murtha had recently been admitted to a Virginia hospital just outside Washington suffering from a serious infection that was believed to have resulted from the surgery.
He was the longest-serving member of Congress in the history of Pennsylvania.
Long-serving US congressman dies at 77
