[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 160 (Tuesday, September 30, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF DIRK KEMPTHORNE

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 30, 2025

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the 
extraordinary life and legacy of one of Idaho's most distinguished 
public servants, my dear friend of over 40 years, Dirk Kempthorne.
  Dirk's career has been a testament to selfless dedication, from the 
halls of local government to the highest echelons of national service. 
Born in San Diego, California, in 1951, Dirk graduated from the 
University of Idaho in 1975 with a degree in political science, where 
he served as Student Body President, a fitting prelude to a lifetime of 
leadership. He began his public service as Mayor of Boise from 1985 to 
1993, guiding our capital city through a period of remarkable growth 
and economic vitality. From there, he ascended to the United States 
Senate, representing Idaho from 1993 to 1999 with a steady hand and 
unyielding commitment to Western values. Elected Governor in 1998 and 
reelected in 2002, Dirk served until 2006, championing fiscal 
responsibility and environmental stewardship. Capping his tenure in 
elective office, he was confirmed as the 49th Secretary of the Interior 
under President George W. Bush, where he balanced conservation with 
economic opportunity across our vast public lands.
  But to me, Mr. Speaker, Dirk has never been just ``Mr. Mayor,'' 
``Senator Kempthorne,'' ``Governor,'' or ``Mr. Secretary.'' He is 
simply Dirk--a loyal confidant, a steadfast ally, and a friend I was 
lucky to meet in the arena of Idaho politics more than four decades 
ago. We met in the mid-1980's, as I began my service in the Idaho State 
Legislature and Dirk launched his mayoral campaign. From those early 
days, our friendship deepened through shared battles and bipartisan 
collaborations on behalf of Idahoans. Dirk's endorsement and unwavering 
support were instrumental in my own 1998 campaign for this House seat, 
a debt of gratitude I carry to this day. He didn't just help get me 
elected; he helped shape the principled conservative I strive to be, 
always reminding me that public service is about people, not politics.
  Mr. Speaker, our professional paths intertwined time and again, 
yielding results that strengthened Idaho and the West. As Mayor, Dirk 
and I worked together to tackle local challenges. When Dirk became 
Governor, I had the honor of being elected to represent Idaho's 2nd 
Congressional District. Together with the Idaho Delegation, we built a 
productive relationship with the State of Idaho, delivering federal 
results for Idahoans across the state.
  I appreciated the priorities Dirk established while serving as 
Secretary of the Interior, and when I was Ranking Member of the House 
Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment. Although 
Republicans did not have the majority in the House, I had the honor of 
working with Dirk to advance priorities vital to Idaho. From working on 
the Endangered Species Act to protect property rights while 
safeguarding habitats, addressing water rights and tribal sovereignty, 
and promoting multiple-use policies for our public lands, Dirk's 
leadership ensured that federal policies respected the unique needs of 
the West.
  Among these efforts, one stands out that holds a place closer to our 
hearts--that is, the Peregrine Fund and its World Center for Birds of 
Prey in Boise. Dirk has been its tireless advocate for this Center, 
just as he was during his time in public service. The Peregrine Fund 
has pioneered species recovery efforts, including the delisting of the 
peregrine falcon from the endangered list. I was proud to secure 
federal funding for the Center's vital work, and even prouder to do so 
alongside a friend who supported these efforts.
  Through it all, Dirk has remained one of Idaho's fiercest champions. 
Even now, as he faces a personal battle with cancer with the same 
determination that defined his public life, Dirk continues to inspire 
us all. His story reminds us that true leadership endures beyond the 
ballot box, rooted in faith, family, and dedication.
  I am grateful for Dirk's decades of service to our state and Nation, 
as well as his friendship all these years. I extend my deepest 
admiration and gratitude to Patricia, his wife, as she has also 
sacrificed.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking and honoring 
Dirk Kempthorne for his decades of service, loyalty, and the lasting 
impact he has had on Idaho and America. May Dirk's legacy soar as high 
as the raptors he has so nobly protected.

                          ____________________