MEDIA RELEASE

The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed a resolution (S.Res.624) honoring Sen. Daniel K. Inouye. The resolution was sponsored by Inouye’s colleague of 36 years, Sen. Daniel K. Akaka.

The text of the resolution follows:

Relative to the death of the Honorable Daniel Ken Inouye, Senator from the State of Hawaii.

Whereas, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye served the people of the state of Hawaii for over 58 years in the Territorial House of Representatives, Territorial Senate, U.S House of Representatives, and U.S. Senate;

Whereas, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye became the first Japanese American to serve in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate;

Whereas, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye represented Hawaii in Congress from before the time of Hawaii’s statehood in 1959 until 2012.

Whereas, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye served as the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense, the first Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs, Chairman of the Democratic Steering Committee, Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Chairman of Rules Committee, Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Secret Military Assistance to Iran and the Nicaraguan Opposition, and Secretary of the Democratic Conference;

Whereas, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye delivered the Keynote Address at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, in which he expressed a vision for a more inclusionary nation and famously declared “this is our country.”

Whereas, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye served as a medical volunteer at the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941 and volunteered to be part of the all Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II at a time when Japanese Americans were being systematically discriminated against by the nation he volunteered to defend, where he was wounded in battle and honorably discharged as a Captain with a Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart with cluster, and 12 other medals and citations;

Whereas, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye was awarded the Medal of Honor by President William J. Clinton in June 2000 along with 21 other Asian-American veterans of World War II for their actions during the war;

Resolved that:

(1) the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, Senator from the State of Hawaii

(2) the Secretary of the Senate communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives and transmit an enrolled copy thereof to the family of the deceased

(3) when the Senate adjourns today, it stand adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased Senator