WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today issued the following statement regarding the passing of his colleague and friend, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee:

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Senator Inouye, who was my dear friend and our highly respected President Pro Tempore. It was a privilege to serve with him on the Appropriations Committee where we worked to approve bills to provide funding for the activities and responsibilities of the federal government. He was an outstanding parliamentarian and will be sorely missed by the Senate, his constituents and his many friends."