THE
HONORABLE NORMAN Y. MINETA
SECRETARY
OF TRANSPORTATION
“THANKS
A MILLION” AWARD CEREMONY
WASHINGTON,
D.C.
JUNE
10, 2002
9:00
AM
Good
morning. Thank you, Melissa, for
the work that you and your associates have done to help us recognize all of
these people who have made such exceptional contributions to America’s freedom
of mobility.
I
welcome all of today’s award recipients to this event where the Department’s
senior leadership takes the opportunity to formally say “thank you.”
I know I speak on behalf of the entire Executive Management Team when I
say that we all consider ourselves fortunate to have colleagues like you
– dedicated public
employees who possess the kind of “can do” attitude that you do.
I
also welcome the family members and invited guests who join us for this
ceremony.
We
honor many of today’s award recipients for their role in helping to secure an
unqualified audit of DoT’s financial statements, the second “clean”
opinion in the last three years, reaffirming our commitment to continually
improve our stewardship of the public resources entrusted to us.
Others
will receive awards for their efforts in working with state and local
governments and private industry to make sure that people moved safely and
seamlessly during the recent Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
And,
we recognize still others for their work on the Maritime Administration’s
Marine Energy and Clean Air Emissions initiative, or the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration’s Click It or Ticket program.
Wherever
you work and whatever your achievements, all of your contributions have helped
to make the Department of Transportation a high performing and well-respected
organization –
and I’m proud to have the chance to work with each of you in
strengthening our Nation’s transportation system.
As
President Bush has said, “Public employees’ work is too often behind the
scenes and unsung, yet invaluable to the vitality of America.”
We intend for this “Thanks a Million” Award to help bring your
outstanding work out from behind the scenes, and put it on center stage.
Nine
months have passed since the horrific terrorist attacks on the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon. These
attacks, and their aftermath, posed new challenges for all of us.
The senior management team knows we could not meet the goals we have met,
nor could we achieve the results we have achieved, without dedicated and
hardworking public servants like you.
The
American public depends on us, they depend on you, and on our partners in state
and local government and in private industry, to ensure that people and products
reach their destinations safely, securely and seamlessly.
Looking about the room this morning gives me every confidence that we
will not disappoint them.
On
my watch, your hard work never goes unrecognized. I applaud your outstanding efforts. And, I know we can count on you in the weeks and months
ahead. Thanks a Million to
each and every one of you for a job well done!
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