For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 26, 2006

President Applauds Senate on Confirmation of Dirk Kempthorne as Secretary of the Interior

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.

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