Political Quotes

“Our former colleague, now Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has written a letter in memory of our departed colleague Dan Inouye. I ask unanimous consent that the letter be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: The Secretary of the Interior, Washington, December 18, 2012. Majority Leader Harry Reid, Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington, DC. Dear Majority Leader: Senator Danny Inouye was and will continue to be one of my lifetime heroes. In December 2008, when the President, you and I were in discussions about my potential service as United States Secretary of the Interior, Senator Inouye said the following to me: ``The Secretary of the Interior is the most important position in the Cabinet because you are the Custodian of America's Natural Resources and America's Heritage.'' Senator Inouye's description of the Department was a major factor in my decision to accept the President's offer to serve as Secretary of the Interior. I have adopted his description of the job of Secretary as my motto and as the best description of the Department of the Interior. Like you, I will forever miss Senator Inouye. He has served and continues to serve as a mentor and inspiration to me in all of my days in public service. I know his life and his teachings will continue to live through each of us as he continues to inspire our journey forward. Respectfully, Ken Salazar, U.S.…”