[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 91 (Thursday, June 17, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S5101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  COMMENDING SENATOR DANIEL K. INOUYE

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, with great pleasure I congratulate the 
senior Senator from Hawaii, Mr. Daniel Inouye, for becoming the second 
longest-serving Senator in history. He achieved this distinction last 
Friday when he became only the second person to have served in the 
Senate for 17,327 days.
  I also want to use this opportunity to congratulate Senator Inouye on 
what I am sure he considers a bigger, and even more important event in 
his life, the birth of his first grandchild, Mary Margaret ``Maggie'' 
Inouye. Maggie was born on April 20 to Ken and Jessica Inouye, the son 
and daughter-in-law of our esteemed colleague. I wish all of them the 
best of health and happiness.
  I have remarked many times on this floor that Senator Inouye is my 
``No. 1 hero.'' No one has ever served our country more extensively, or 
more bravely and with more loyalty and determination, than has Senator 
Inouye.
  During World War II, he served in the famed 442nd Infantry Regimental 
Combat Team, the most decorated Army unit in the history of United 
States. In recognition of his war heroics, he was awarded the 
Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the 
Congressional Medal of Honor, making him one of only seven Senators to 
have been awarded our Nation's highest military honor.
  In 1963, he became the first Japanese American ever to serve in the 
U.S. Congress. And in this Chamber he has served his State and our 
country with great distinction. Senator Inouye has served on the Senate 
Watergate Committee, the Congressional Iran Contra Committee, the 
Senate Appropriations Committee, and as Secretary of the Democratic 
Conference.
  And during his long and productive career in this Chamber, he has 
become my dear friend. I was honored and pleased when he was the person 
who nominated me for my third term as Senate whip in 1975. Foremost, I 
have always appreciated his deep loyalty to the Senate and to me when I 
was the Senate Democratic leader and he was serving as secretary of the 
Democratic Conference.
  Now, Senator Inouye has achieved another milestone in a career filled 
with achievements and successes, and I commend him on it.
  Congratulations Senator Inouye, my friend, my colleague and my ``No. 
1 hero!''

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