On the recordDecember 27, 2012
on behalf of the entire Senate, I welcome Senator Brian Schatz to the Senate. I congratulate him on his appointment to fill the seat of the late Senator Dan Inouye who, as we all know, was an institution in and of himself. Senator Schatz is now one of the youngest Senators in this body. Nevertheless, he has a long history of serving the State of Hawaii. Prior to entering politics, Senator Schatz served for 8 years as the CEO of Helping Hands Hawaii, one of Hawaii's largest nonprofit social services organizations. He also served four terms in the Hawaii House of Representatives and served until just a few minutes ago as the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Hawaii. Having been a Lieutenant Governor he has experience as a legislator, and then as one of the presiding officers of the entire Senate, speaks for itself in helping to prepare for the job he has here. I expect he will build upon the foundation laid by Senator Inouye in the Senate. While no one can fill the shoes of our friend Senator Inouye, Brian Schatz is a young man with a future full of promise and opportunity. I ask unanimous consent that the Senator from Hawaii, Mr. Akaka, now be recognized. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The senior Senator from Hawaii is recognized.
