    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [March 16, 2006]
    [Pages 492-493]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Nomination of Dirk Kempthorne
    To Be Secretary of the Interior
    March 16, 2006

        The President. Good afternoon. I'm pleased to announce my nomination
    of Governor Dirk Kempthorne to be the Secretary of the Interior. The
    Department of Interior is responsible for managing our national parks
    and public lands, conserving our natural resources, and pursuing
    environmentally responsible energy development on Federal lands and
    waters.
        I've nominated Dirk to succeed an outstanding public servant, Gale
    Norton. As the Secretary of the Interior for
    the past 5 years, she was instrumental in establishing the Healthy
    Forests Initiative to protect communities from catastrophic wildfire and
    to improve the habitat. When Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast
    region, she helped lead the efforts to restore offshore energy
    production so that Americans would not suffer further supply disruptions
    and price increases.
        Future generations of Americans will be able to enjoy our great
    national parks and wildlife refuges because of Gale's untiring work.
    Gale was one of the original members of my Cabinet and the first woman
    in American history to hold the post of Secretary of the Interior. I
    appreciate her dedicated service, and Laura and I
    wish Gale and John
    all the best.
        Dirk Kempthorne is the right man to build on this progress. As
    Governor of Idaho, he worked closely with Gale on a variety of important initiatives. They worked
    together to resolve a longstanding water rights issue, to return
    responsibility to Idaho for managing the local wolf population, and to
    make the Healthy Forests Initiative a reality in Idaho.

    [[Page 493]]

        As Governor, Dirk has been a responsible steward of Idaho's 30 State
    parks and recreational trailways that serve millions of visitors each
    year. He has launched the statewide Experience Idaho Initiative, which
    will fund needed improvements within Idaho's State parks to preserve
    public spaces and expand recreational opportunities for visitors. Last
    August, I had a chance to enjoy those recreational opportunities
    firsthand when Dirk and I biked some of Idaho's trails together.
        As Secretary of the Interior, Dirk will continue my administration's
    efforts to conserve our land, water, and air resources; reduce the
    maintenance backlog of our national parks; support historic and cultural
    sites through our Preserve America Initiative; and develop the energy
    potential of Federal lands and waters in environmentally sensitive ways.
        Dirk brings wide experience to these important tasks. He has served
    at every level of government: as mayor of Boise, as Governor of Idaho,
    and as a United States Senator. While in the Senate, he chaired the
    Subcommittee on Drinking Water, Fisheries, and Wildlife, and he chaired
    the Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee.
        He built bipartisan support to enact comprehensive reforms to the
    Safe DrinkingWater Act. Dirk understands that those who live closest to
    the land know how to manage it best, and he will work closely with State
    and local leaders to ensure wise stewardship of our resources.
        Dirk has had a long and abiding love for nature. When he and his
    wife, Patricia, were married, they chose
    to hold the ceremony atop Idaho's Moscow Mountain at sunrise. Dirk said,
    ``I don't think there's a more beautiful cathedral than the outdoors.''
        I appreciate his willingness to take on this important post, and I
    ask the Senate to confirm him promptly as the 49th Secretary of the
    Interior.
        Thanks for agreeing to serve.

    [Secretary-designate Kempthorne made brief remarks.]

        The President. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 5:29 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to John Hughes, husband of Secretary
    of the Interior Gale A. Norton. The transcript released by the Office of
    the Press Secretary also included the remarks of Secretary-designate
    Kempthorne.