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Inouye feels same pride, passion in ninth term

From Sen. Daniel Inouye:

Aloha,

Being sworn in on the first day of a new Congress – Jan. 5, 2011 – will always hold a special, emotional meaning for me. It is awe-inspiring when one considers the many great American leaders who have walked the halls of the United States Senate.

And, it is with a deep sense of humility and pride knowing that the people of Hawaii have allowed me the privilege of representing you. It is a responsibility I take very seriously.

As I begin my ninth term, I do so with the same passion and determination I have brought to Washington, D.C. over these many years.

The start of the 112th Congress brings both challenges and opportunities. The season of campaign promises is over, and now begins the hard work of governing, leading and delivering.

With my many years of service in the Senate, I can assure you that meaningful change is most often the product of bipartisan compromise. It is never easy, and almost always arrived upon after vigorous debate.

I truly hope we will dispense with the harsh rhetoric in Washington and work together to provide for the unique needs of our individual constituents and communities. Every member of Congress represents constituents and communities hungry for jobs, greater support for education and health care, and investments in infrastructure and innovation.

Last month, we lost out on the opportunity to pass an omnibus federal budget. The failed omnibus included 141 earmarks, totaling about $321 million for Hawaii.

These monies would have funded:

* Road construction and public transit buses for all the counties;
Renewable energy initiatives in wind, solar, biomass and bioalgae, ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) and electric vehicles;

* Support for farmers and ranchers in the diversification of our agricultural base, and our need for food security;

* Greater access to quality health care, educational and job training opportunities for those most in need;

* Cutting-edge innovation in science and technology, supporting many of Hawaii’s most promising high tech small businesses.

Hawaii was not the only state to lose out on funding that would have come from congressional initiatives. Many of my Republican colleagues spent the holiday season explaining why they did not deliver what they promised.

Hopefully, those conversations provided some perspective to remind my colleagues that now is not the time to play politics with the financial security of the American people.

As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I was disappointed with our failure to pass the omnibus federal budget. However, I am most hopeful that when we begin the debate anew, we will do so with the needs of our constituents firmly in mind. I most certainly will.

My renewed optimism is fueled by the trust you have placed in me, together with the legislative work we were able to pass in the waning days of the 111th Congress.

Senate Republicans and Democrats put aside their differences to extend unemployment benefits and tax cuts for a majority of Americans, ratified a needed nuclear arms treaty with Russia, provided benefits for 9/11 first responders and repealed the ban on gays serving openly in the military.

I would like to believe that while political posturing will continue, the members of the Senate are committed to doing what is right for the good of our nation.

There is so much work to be done at a critical time for Hawaii and our nation. We have new leaders in Washington Place, the legislature and the counties and I look forward to working with them to ensure that the needs of our constituents are met.

Times are tough, no doubt. We must be compassionate in our actions and celebrate small successes. Let us move forward, together, to build a stronger, safer and sustainable Hawaii.

Mahalo for your support and Hauoli Makahiki Hou!

Aloha,
Sen. Daniel K. Inouye

Sen. Daniel Inouye is sworn in to his ninth term in the U.S. Senate by Vice President Joe Biden. Inouye wife, Irene Hirano, looks on. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Sen. Inouye)

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