[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 21 (Monday, May 29, 2006)]
[Page 1032]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Senate Confirmation of Dirk Kempthorne To Be the Secretary 
of the Interior

May 26, 2006

    I applaud the Senate for confirming Dirk Kempthorne as Secretary of 
the Interior. Dirk has an abiding love of nature and the outdoors and is 
dedicated to conserving our natural resources. He will continue my 
administration's efforts to effectively manage our national parks, 
support historic and cultural sites through our Preserve America 
Initiative, and pursue environmentally responsible energy development on 
Federal lands and waters. He will also work to maintain good relations 
with Native American tribes and will play a leadership role in my 
cooperative conservation approach to environmental stewardship. I 
congratulate Dirk and his family on today's confirmation and thank him 
for his continued service to our Nation.