Following the passing of Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) on December 17, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kevin K. Washburn released a statement on the longtime senator.

“Senator Inouye was a remarkable man who served his country at a time of its greatest peril during World War II and later as a distinguished member of Congress. His endurance of racial prejudice made him a champion of human rights and dignity – a hallmark of his chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs,” Washburn said. “Under his leadership Congress renounced the federal policy of termination against American Indian and Alaska Native tribes by repealing House Concurrent Resolution 108 and approved the establishment of the National Museum of the American Indian. These are just two shining examples from a long list of his legislative accomplishments that have benefited not only the American Indian and Alaska Native people, but the entire nation.

“In Senator Inouye’s passing Indian country lost not just a great champion, but a great friend. His wisdom, leadership and humanity will be sorely missed, and our prayers go out to his family, his staff and the people of Hawaii.”