WASHINGTON, DC (June 8, 2006) - Yesterday, Dirk Kempthorne was sworn in as the Secretary of the Department Of Interior in a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House. During his acceptance speech, Secretary Kempthorne highlighted the role of hunting, fishing and wildlife in the duties of the Department of the Interior.

Addressing the President, Secretary Kempthorne said, "White House staff members said that I needed to understand that you, Mr. President, want your administration to be good stewards of our lands and our waters...that you respect those who hunt and fish; and that you want to foster good relations..." Continuing, Kempthorne stressed, "Together we can, and must, care for our wildlife refuges, and our national parks, not just for our benefit, but for the benefit of our children's grandchildren, and those to come."

Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation President Jeff Crane was seated in the front row to witness the ceremony. As Jeff shook hands with the newly sworn in Secretary, Kempthorne remarked that he was looking forward to working with CSF and the sportsmen's community.

Kempthorne is the first Secretary of the Interior to serve as a governor, a senator, and a mayor. Commenting on his previous experience, President Bush stated, "He's a true conservationist with a track record to prove it."

As governor of Idaho, Dirk was responsible for managing Idaho's 30 state parks and recreational trails. He proved himself to be an outstanding steward of his state's open spaces. He launched a statewide initiative to fund improvements in the state's parks and public spaces. He created the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. He established the Governor's Office of Species Conservation.

As a United States Senator, he chaired the Subcommittee on Drinking Water, Fisheries and Wildlife, and built bipartisan support to enact comprehensive reforms to the Safe Drinking Water Act. He was a member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus and was joined yesterday by Caucus members Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK), Larry Craig (R-ID) and Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Congressman Roy Blunt (R-MO).

About CSF: For 16 years, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF) has been working with the more than 300 members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus to provide sportsmen a seat at the table when decisions impacting our outdoor traditions are debated in the nation's capital. With the success of the Sportsmen's Caucus in the U.S. Congress, CSF is now working with state legislative sportsmen's caucuses to provide a voice for sportsmen closer to home. There are now 29 state sportsmen's caucuses helping to support the rights and interests of the nation's hunters and anglers. Through our unique affiliation with state and federal elected officials, CSF serves as the sportsmen's link between these decision-makers and our partners in the nation's leading conservation organizations. For additional information, visit the CSF website at www.sportsmenslink.org.

Media Contact:
Christie Caywood
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