Domenici Salutes Sen. Daniel Inouye Upon Hearing News of His Death

Former Sen. Pete Domenici, a Republican, just released a statement praising Sen. Dan Inouye, a Hawaii Democrat who died today after a battle with respiratory illness.

Domenici and Inouye served together in the Senate for more than three decades and shared many moments together as members of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. In his statement, Domenici seems to mourn not only the loss of his friend, but of bipartisan possibility in Congress.

Here is Domenici’s statement in full:

“Daniel Inouye’s passing brings to a close the career of an extraordinary patriot, statesman, and human being. He was a dear friend of mine. In the 36 years we served together in the Senate, we worked on innumerable bills. I was fortunate enough to spend time with him a few weeks ago, where we discussed not only the work we had done together, but the work left for Congress to address.

Former Sen. Nancy Landon Kassebaum greets Sen. Inouye at BPC’s “Century of Service” event on March 21, 2012. 

“Losing men of Senator Inouye’s caliber should do two things: remind us of the greatness of giants like him and challenge this Congress to put its nation first, and its joint and singular ambitions far second. Never was it impossible for Senator Inouye and me to reach agreement on even the most divisive and difficult issues.

“I urge everyone to read Senator Inouye’s biography and then ask, ‘what is so hard about facing the challenges of today, when he and his compatriots triumphed over much worse without complaint?’

“My wife, Nancy, joins me in sending our deepest condolences to the Senator’s family and to all those in Hawaii and in Congress who will miss his courage and his wisdom.”