a banner year, because thad cochran and i were members of that freshman class. in 1978, he was elected to the united states senate and is currently serving his sixth term in office. senator cochran is the vice chairman on the senate committee of appropriations on which senator inouye serves as chairman. ladies and gentlemen, please welcome senator thad cochran. [ applause ] >> thank you very much. thank you very much, ron, former colleague in the house. it is a great honor for me to introduce the distinguished senator from hawaii, dan inouye, who serves as chairman of our appropriations committee in the senate, has been president pro teas well. we look to him for guidance, for wisdom and friendship. he's a friend to everybody, and he ia leader for all. in my judgment, in the history of the senate, we've probably not had someone with as diversified a bacround of military service and experience along with public service of a civilian nature in the house and the u.s. senate. so it is my pleasure to introduce, really present to you, dan inouye as the recipient of thi

ladies and gentlemen, please welcome senator thad cochran. [applause] >> thank you very much. it is a great honor for me to introduce the distinguished senator from hawaii, daniel inouye, who serves as chairman on our committee, and president pro tem as well. we look to him for guidance and wisdom and friendship. he is a friend to everybody and a leader for all. in my judgment, in the history of the senate, we probably have not had someone with as diversified a background of military service and experience along with public service of a civilian nature in the house and u.s. senate. it is my pleasure to introduce, really, present to you daniel in a we as the recipient -- daniel inouye as the recipient of this award from the capitol historical society. [applause] >> the award reece, "to senator daniel k. inouye, in recognition of your lifetime leadership in the united states congress and for all you have done to advance public understanding and appreciation of america's representative democracy." there you go, senator. >> thank you. >> say few words. [applause] -- say a few word

because it isn't always easy to get the maine people but not getting a mississippi republican like thad cochran both of whom have signed the grover norquist pledge, that is a very bad day for grover norquist and jim demint who, with only 33 republican senators on their letter to the supercommittee, have now publicly demonstrated that grover norquist and jim demint do not now have the votes in the senate to filibuster a supercommittee bill that contains tax increases. the demint letter is a profoundly stupid sign of weakness for which we should all be grateful. and so tonight's profiles in republican courage, are the 11 republican senators who did not sign the demint/norquist letter. seven of whom have previously signed the grover norquist pledge. the profiles in republican courage also include all 40 of the house republicans who signed the anti-norquist letter to the supercommittee saying tax increases should be on the table. 40 republican house members. and 11 republican senators is more than enough for democrats in congress to work with to get things done. if some members of the republican pa

a banner year, because thad cochran and i were members of that freman class. in 1978, he was elected to the united states senate and is currently serving his sixth term in offic senator cochran is the vice chairman on the senate committ of appropriations on which senator inouye serves as chairman. ladies and gentlemen, please welcome senator thad cochran. [ applause ] >> thank you very much. thank you very much, ron, former colleague in the house. it is a great honor for me to introduce the distinguished senator from hawaii, dan inouye who serves as chairman of our appropriations committee in the senate, has been president pro tem as well. we look to him for guidance, for wisdom and friendship. 's a friend to everybody, and he is a leader for all. in my jugment, in the history of the senate, we've probably not had someone with as diversified a background of military service and experience along with public service of a civilian nature in the house and the u.s. senate. so it is my pleasure to introduce, really present to you, dan inouye as the recipient of this