FAIRFAX, Va. — An 18-term congressman who helped steer hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer money to his northeastern Pennsylvania district while beating back bribery charges has died. Joseph M. McDade was 85.

A statement from his family said McDade died Sunday at his home in Fairfax, Va.

McDade was the longest-serving Republican in the U.S. House at the time of his 1992 indictment on charges that he accepted gifts from defense companies in exchange for contracts. He was acquitted after a seven-week trial.

Constituents largely stood behind the congressman. As ranking member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, he helped steer money to local manufacturers to replace a collapsed coal industry.

McDade’s funeral will be held Thursday.