Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-CO, announced March 3 he would not seek a third term this fall, The Associated Press reported.

"After a great deal of soul searching and reflection, I have decided not to seek re-election," he said in a statement. "I feel the time has come to pass that duty on to another and return to my ranch with my family that I love."

Campbell, 70, has faced questions about his health since last year, when he acknowledged undergoing treatments for prostate cancer.

"I realize the deteriorating health may hamper my ability to serve," Campbell said. "Doctors have assured me that after treatment for prostate cancer, the recovery rate is 98 percent. But I believe Coloradans deserve a 100 percent guarantee of service."

Meanwhile, Campbell's office was shaken up last month when it was alleged that a longtime aide had been taking kickbacks. The senator reported the matter to the Senate Ethics Committee.

Most recently, and of interest to truck drivers, Campbell introduced SB1776. The bill would require owners of chassis interchanged with truckers at ports and rail terminals to be held responsible for maintaining them so that they meet federal safety requirements.

Campbell holds a commercial driver's license.

"Every day, literally hundreds of unsafe intermodal chassis carrying containers leave U.S. ports and travel on our public roads and highways, endangering not only the drivers of these vehicles but also the general public, which shares the road with them …

After he introduced the bill, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced that intermodal chassis owners – not truckers – would stand to incur fines if the chassis were unsafe, in essence making the chassis owners responsible.