WASHINGTON DC— Acting Interior Secretary Lynn Scarlett today commended the U.S. Senate for its swift confirmation of Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne to be the 49th Secretary of the Interior.

"I am pleased that the Senate has acted to quickly confirm Governor Kempthorne," Acting Secretary Scarlett said. "The strong bipartisan support shown to Governor Kempthorne in the confirmation process clearly demonstrates just how well respected he is among members of both political parties. America will be well served by his well-known consensus-building approach."