Daniel Inouye

Daniel Ken Inouye, a Democrat, has represented Hawaii in the United States Senate since 1962. He was the first American of Japanese descent to serve in the United States House of Representatives and later the first in the Senate.

Iraq War
Inouye voted against the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq in Oct. 2002.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

"The Gang of 14"
On May 23, 2005, Inouye was one of fourteen moderate senators to forge a compromise on the Democrats' use of the judicial filibuster, thus blocking the Republican leadership's attempt to implement the so-called "nuclear option". Under the agreement, the Democrats would retain the power to filibuster a Bush judicial nominee only in an "extraordinary circumstance", and the three most conservative Bush appellate court nominees (Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owen and William Pryor) would receive a vote by the full Senate.

Reparations for Japanese Latin Americans
Inouye introduced The Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act in the 110th Congress which would establish a commission that would determine the facts and circumstances involving the relocation, internment and deportation of Japanese Latin Americans.

Bio
Inouye was born September 7, 1924 in Honolulu. In 1943 he enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which became one of the most highly-decorated units in the history of the U.S. Army. During the World War II campaign in Europe he received the Bronze Star and also the Distinguished Service Cross, which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor. Although he lost his right arm in the war he remained in the military until 1947, discharged with the rank of captain.

He went to college on the GI Bill and graduated from the University of Hawai'i at M?noa in 1950 with a B.A. in political science. He earned his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC in 1953. Soon afterward, he was elected to the territorial legislature, of which he was a member until shortly before Hawaii achieved statehood in 1959. He won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as Hawaii's first full member, and took office on August 21, 1959, when Hawaii became a state. He was reelected in 1960.

In 1962, Inouye was elected to the United States Senate, succeeding fellow Democrat Sen. Oren E. Long. Inouye gained national attention for his service on the Senate Watergate Committee. He was chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence from 1975 until 1979, and chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs from 1987 until 1995 and from 2001 until 2003. Inouye was also involved in the Iran Contra investigations of the 1980s, chairing a special committee from 1987 until 1989. He was a candidate for reelection to the Senate in 2004 and easily defeated his Republican opponent, Campbell Cavasso.

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation - Chairman
 * Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
 * Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
 * Senate Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science
 * Subcommittee on Defense
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Water
 * Subcommittee on Homeland Security
 * Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
 * Subcommittee on Military Contruction and Veterans Affairs
 * Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * Senate Committee on Appropriations
 * Subcommittee on Commerce Justice and Science
 * Subcommittee on Defense - Ranking Minority Member
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Water
 * Subcommittee on State Foreign Operations and Related Programs
 * Subcommittee on Homeland Security
 * Subcommittee on Labor Health and Human Services Education and Related Agencies
 * Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs
 * Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation - Ranking Minority Member
 * Subcommittee on Aviation
 * Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs Product Safety and Insurance
 * Subcommittee on Fisheries and the Coast Guard
 * Subcommittee on National Ocean Policy Study
 * Subcommittee on Technology Innovation and Competitiveness
 * Subcommittee on Trade Tourism and Economic Development
 * Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine - Ranking Minority Member
 * Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
 * Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

More Background Data

 * See how you compare to Daniel Inouye

Resources

 * Official website

Articles

 * Bob Geiger, "Confirmed: Inouye Dropping Lieberman and Supporting Lamont," BobGeiger.com Blogspot, August 29, 2006. re Joe Lieberman and Ned Lamont