[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 39 (Friday, March 31, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2686-S2687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SECRETARY OF INTERIOR GALE NORTON

  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the work of a 
good friend of mine and a distinguished public servant, Secretary of 
Interior Gale Norton. Today is her final day as Secretary of Interior. 
I am certain that her presence in that position will be missed.
  Secretary Norton hails from my home State of Colorado where she built 
a reputation as a hardworking conservationist and public servant. In 
Colorado she served as the State's attorney general where she 
represented the State before the Supreme Court on several occasions. 
But arguing cases before the Supreme Court wasn't challenging enough 
for Gale, so when asked by President Bush to be the first female to 
head the Department of Interior she wholeheartedly agreed.
  Throughout her time at Interior she employed a commonsense approach 
and an understanding of Western issues which has proven to be an asset 
to the agency and the Nation. It is vital to have someone who 
appreciates Western issues as Secretary of Interior. This understanding 
is so crucial because, on average, 52 percent of the land mass in the 
13 Western States is federally owned, while the average for the rest of 
the Nation is 4 percent.
  Secretary Norton has guided Interior through one of the most 
challenging periods in the Department's history with an enthusiasm, 
confidence, and expertise that will be difficult to match.
  She saw the Department through some of the most devastating fire 
seasons in recent history, and in response

[[Page S2687]]

to this was charged with implementing one of the most important natural 
resource laws ever enacted, the Healthy Forest Restoration Act. The 
benefits of this legislation and her actions are already being seen on 
the ground on public land throughout the Nation.
  Secretary Norton also recognized the importance of domestic energy 
production before many others; her legacy will help decrease our 
dependence on foreign energy sources. This understanding of energy 
needs was priceless as she worked with Congress on the most 
comprehensive energy reform legislation in decades.
  She also worked tirelessly to improve the efficiency of DOI, reducing 
duplicative measures and cutting bureaucracy while improving citizen 
satisfaction with the Department.
  She excelled at pushing issues on a national level, but was also 
instrumental in several projects which are closer to my heart as they 
are located in Colorado.
  Secretary Norton helped with the creation of our Nation's newest 
national park, The Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. She also 
helped to create the largest Wildlife Refuge in Colorado, the 92,500 
acre Baca National Wildlife Refuge.
  Secretary Norton worked to help take the Rocky Mountain Arsenal and 
Rocky Flats and transform them from national defense sites to wildlife 
refuges.
  As Gale steps down I am somewhat saddened. Her moving on signals the 
closing of one of the most productive chapters in the Department of 
Interior's history. But I am excited to see what new endeavors she will 
take on. In these new adventures I have no doubt that she will meet 
challenges head on and find the same success that she has seen as 
Secretary of Interior. I wish Secretary Norton all of the best in her 
new adventures. Thank you, Gale, for all your hard work.

                          ____________________