Daniel Inouye

Daniel Ken “Dan” Inouye ( born September 7, 1924) is the senior United States Senator from Hawaii, a member of the Democratic party, and the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, making him the highest-ranking Japanese American politician in American history.  Inouye is the chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations.

Senator Daniel Inouye delivers closing remarks at the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony honoring Japanese Americans for their service to the United States during WWII, were awarded The Congressional Gold Medal for their service in WWII.

A senator since 1963, Inouye is the most senior senator. He is also the second longest serving U.S. Senator in history after Robert Byrd. Inouye has continuously represented Hawaii in the U.S. Congress since it achieved statehood in 1959, serving as Hawaii’s first U.S. Representative and later a senator. Inouye was the first Japanese-American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and later the first in the U.S. Senate. At age 87, Inouye is the second-oldest current senator, after 87 year old Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey. He is also a recipient of the United States Medal of Honor, as well as other military awards.

If he serves until June 29, 2014, he will become the longest serving Senator in history. Inouye has already announced that he plans to run for a record tenth term in 2016, when he will be 92 years old

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