“Many of our initiatives look to the future of this Nation, Kempthorne said at a budget press conference on Monday, "securing for our children and grandchildren healthy lands and waters, opportunities to connect with Nature and the foundations of continued economic prosperity.” Hi-Res

$10.7 Billion Interior Budget Sustains Core Conservation, Stewardship Programs; Focuses on
Emerging Challenges

President Bush’s $10.7 billion budget for the Department of the Interior in FY2009 maintains high levels of support for conservation and natural resource stewardship programs, advances national park, healthy lands, safe Indian community, and Indian education initiatives launched last year and proposes new strategic investments to address emerging environmental and resource management challenges.

“The Department is at the forefront of major issues facing the American people,” Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne said in announcing the budget. “Many of our initiatives look to the future of this Nation – securing for our children and grandchildren healthy lands and waters, opportunities to connect with Nature and the foundations of continued economic prosperity.” more en Español

New Initiatives:

• Water for America Initiative
• Ocean and Coastal Frontiers Initiative
• Birds Forever Initiative
• Southwest Border Safety Initiative

Ongoing Initiatives:

• National Park Centennial Initiative
• Healthy Lands Initiative
• Improving Indian Education Initiative
• Safe Indian Communities Initiative

Additional Information:

• 2009 Interior Budget in Brief
• Listen to Podcast of FY2009 Budget Press Conference
• View Additional Photos

From left to right, U.S. Ambassador to Micronesia, Miriam Hughes, Office of Insular Affairs Director, Nik Pula, Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne, President of Micronesia, Emanuel Mori , Director of FSM SBOC, Fabian Nimea and Assistant Director of FSM SBOC, Epel Ilon. Hi-Res

Secretary Kempthorne Welcomes Federated States of Micronesia
President Emanuel Mori

During a visit to the Department of the Interior on Wednesday, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne thanked Federated States of Micronesia President Emanuel “Manny” Mori for his nation’s patriotism and partnership with the United States in the War on Terror. Kempthorne, who visited President Mori in Palikir, Pohnpei, on the Secretary’s trip to the Pacific last year, also commended Mori for his courage in implementing government reforms in the FSM. Mori is making his first official visit to the United States. The rate of enlistment into the U.S. Armed Forces for people from the FSM and other U.S.-affiliated insular areas is much higher per capita than for the U.S. mainland. President Mori, who has a daughter serving in the U.S. Air Force, thanked Secretary Kempthorne for the U.S.’ continued support of the FSM and expressed his appreciation for the special relationship between the two countries and his intention to strengthen that relationship during his administration. more

About the Department of the interior
The Department of the Interior (DOI) is the nation’s principal conservation agency. Interior is a large, decentralized agency with over 80,000 employees and 180,000 volunteers located at approximately 2,400 operating locations across the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, and freely associated states. more
Mission Statement	History
Key Officials	Past Secretaries
Organizational Chart	Quick Facts
DOI In the News	Strategic Plan
DOI en Español
Below are links to some DOI sites that may be of interest:
Water	Science
Floods	Astrogeology at USGS
Supply in the West	Hurricanes
Conservation	Earthquakes
Resources	Energy
Land	Wildlife
Fire	Endangered Species
Maps	Habitats & Conservation
Parks / Refuges / BLM Lands	Wild Horse & Burro Adoption
Offshore Lands/Volcanoes	Duck Stamps
Communities	InfoLinks
Special Trustee	www.HealthyForests.gov
Indian Trust	Avian Influenza Information
Territories and Islands	2005 Hurricane Recovery