Madam President, in the year 1924, a child was born to a woman nurtured by a Hawaiian family, born in Hawaii as an American of Japanese ancestry.  He was brought up in Hawaii and went to school there, graduated great McKinley High School in 1942 and decided to serve our country.  You have heard others speak about his activities in the Army.  He went on to finally receive the Medal of Honor from this country which is the greatest medal anyone can receive.  And this is Senator Dan Inouye.

And when he returned to Hawaii, he entered into politics and served in the state legislature.  When Hawaii became a state in 1959, he was Hawaii's first U.S. House of Representatives member.  It was from there he ran for the U.S. senate, was elected, and has been here since that time.  Dan Inouye has served our country well over these years, and he has served Hawaii well.  So today I rise to mark an historic occasion, which is Senator Inouye's 15,000th vote.  This historic milestone is compelling evidence of Senator Inouye's devotion to public service. The people of Hawaii have given him their trust, and in return he has fought relentlessly for our state and our country.  Dan Inouye is an institution, without question, in the United States Senate. And I look forward to casting many more votes with my good friend and mentor and brother to benefit Hawaii and strengthen the United States.  God bless you, Senator Inouye with much aloha.  Thank you very much.