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WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Daniel Ken Inouye, 85, is now the highest-ranking Asian American government official in the nation’s entire history. The Democrat from Hawaii was sworn in as Senate President Pro Tempore at 2 p.m. of June 28, following the death of Senator Robert Byrd, Democrat from West Virginia, who served for 57 years.

Under the Constitution, Senate President Pro Tempore Inouye, as the most senior member (elected in 1962) of the majority party, is now third in line of presidential succession after President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

In this nation’s capital, U.S. Rep. Michael Honda (D, CA), chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) told Asian Fortune, “This is truly demonstrative of how the times have changed in America…The Senator’s new leadership in the upper chamber beckons us, as a nation, to fully realize the true meaning of democratic representation.” (See full text of his statement elsewhere in this story.)

Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) Executive Director George Wu noted in phone and email interviews, “The senator’s rise to President Pro Tempore is well deserved and serves as the perfect reminder that Asian Pacific Americans continue to play a leading role in American history.” He noted the OCA honored Inouye with its OCA Outstanding Citizen Achievement Award in 2003.

Eric Lachica, Executive Director of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans based here, also “welcomed Inouye’s new position,” calling him “the veterans’ champion.” Inouye, a World War II hero and Medal of Honor recipient, provided leadership resulting in legislation that included a one-time equity pension for surviving Filipino veterans living in this country and in the Philippines. He told his colleagues it was the right thing to do, consistent with “the America that I know.”

Powerful Post

Inouye is the chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee in the 111th U.S. Congress. He is up for reelection for his ninth consecutive, six-year term in the 100-member Senate this coming Nov. 2.

Pro tempore is Latin for temporary or for the time being. (It is pronounced pro-tem-porey.) In his new position, Inouye will preside over the Senate in the absence of Vice President Biden, the Senate’s presiding officer under the Constitution who has a tie-breaking role.

Inouye’s hometown newspaper, The Honolulu Star Advertiser, reported Inouye will have signing authority over bills and other official Senate documents. He will also choose senators to preside over the chamber during floor sessions. The ceremonial position comes with a security detail.

The Star Advertiser also reported June 29 the senator was not happy with the news because it was the result of his friend Byrd’s demise. “I’m not in the mood for it,” the paper quoted the senator as saying in a telephone interview from this nation’s capital, adding, “I owe much to him. I would have hoped that my new responsibility would be given to me under different circumstances.”

In his official website, Inouye paid tribute to Byrd as his friend and leader. “We have been friends for nearly 50 years and I am overcome with memories. Nearly 48 years ago Senator Byrd was one of the first to greet me in the chamber of the United States Senate… Since those early days, I have called him ‘my leader.’”

Honda’s tribute

Congressman Honda’s full statement follows: “Senator Inouye will be sworn in as president pro-tempore of the Senate, making him third in line of succession to become the U.S. president and the most senior Asian American and Pacific Islander government official in American history.”

“This is truly demonstrative of how the times have changed in America. In my lifetime, I have witnessed everything from the unwelcoming walls of my World War II-era Japanese internment camp to the welcoming, in the White House, of the first black president, who further diversified the White House by nominating three Cabinet-level Asian Americans. All of this within my lifetime.

“The Senator’s new leadership in the upper chamber beckons us, as a nation, to fully realize the true meaning of democratic representation.”

Organization of Chinese Americans Executive Director George Wu said Senator Inouye “is a true American hero who has continuously met the nation’s call for his leadership with both great skill and unmatched courage.”

“His Asian Pacific American and Japanese American heritage is a source of immense pride and respect by the Asian Pacific American community, including OCA members and partners,” he added.

WWII Hero

Senate President Pro Tempore Inouye Inouye is also known as a World War II combat veteran of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Inouye lost his right arm in a heroic feat during combat in Italy in 1945, earning him the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the WWII Victory Medal. In June 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded him the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for military valor.

Inouye became chairman of the Appropriations Committee in 2009 after Byrd stepped down due to illness. He continued to fight for the passage of a legislation including a provision for Filipino WWII pension equity.

Inouye has served on the Appropriations Committee since 1971. The committee is the largest and considered by many to be the most powerful committee in the U.S. Senate, consisting of 30 members in the 111th Congress. Its role is defined by the U.S. Constitution, which requires “appropriations made by law” prior to the expenditure of any money from the federal treasury. Every year, the committee writes the legislation that allocates federal funds to the numerous government agencies, departments, and organizations. Inouye also serves as a senior member of the Commerce, Rules and Indian Affairs Committees.