Secretary Salazar Commends Employees for Their Hard Work in 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today thanked the department's employees around the nation for their hard work and accomplishments during 2009, releasing a report on the major conservation, energy and land management initiatives and administrative reforms achieved in the past year.

Speaking at a Town Hall assembly at the Department's headquarters and via satellite to thousands of employees around the nation, Salazar noted that the completion of the Obama Administration's first year in office was “an appropriate opportunity to reflect on the achievements we have made together as a Department and to look forward to the challenges ahead.”

“The belief that we can leave our world better than we found it is why we are called to public service,” Salazar said. “It's why you and I and all of us are here at Interior.” The Secretary also told employees he appreciated receiving their ideas, thoughts, and vision for the Department and the Nation and looked forward to continuing to hear from them through new channels of communication for employee expression and comment.

The 36-page report highlights the progress the Department made and the Secretary's vision for the coming year. It is available online here.

The Secretary's full remarks can be viewed here.