[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.