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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
Federico F. Peña to be Sworn in as the Eighth Secretary of EnergyFederico F. Peña is the eighth person, and the first Hispanic, to serve as United States Secretary of Energy. Following confirmation by the U.S. Senate, he will be sworn in to office today, with an official ceremony to follow next week. A former mayor of Denver, Colo., Peña served as Secretary of Transportation in President Clinton's first term. He begins his tenure at the Department of Energy (DOE) committed to carrying on the agency's vital missions in national security, science and technology, energy resources, environmental quality and further invigorating U.S. economic competitiveness in the world economy. At the Department of Transportation (DOT), Secretary Peña's leadership was instrumental in increasing the global competitiveness of America's transportation industry and improving travel safety. His "one-level safety" initiative at DOT standardized and improved safety across different categories of airlines. Secretary Peña also downsized the work force by 10 percent and cut miles of red tape, eliminating 1,450 pages of regulation. In a statement issued by the White House, President Clinton said, "I want to applaud the Senate today for its strong vote of support for Federico Peña to serve as our nation's new Energy Secretary. As Transportation Secretary, Federico Peña built consensus among communities, business and government and streamlined operations to reap benefits for all taxpayers. "With this record, I am confident that Secretary Peña has the skill, experience and dedication to lead the Energy Department to meet its central challenges – to broaden America's energy resources, to promote a safer, more secure world and to help to create a brighter economic future for all Americans," the President concluded. "As we near the beginning of a new millennium, I am enthusiastic about America's future and the role that the men and women of the Department of Energy will play in creating it," said Secretary Peña. "The brilliant scientists and engineers, the unparalleled facilities of the national laboratories, and the top notch work DOE produces will continue to support our country's long-term economic, energy, environmental and national security interests." Born in Laredo, Texas, in 1947, Secretary Peña is the third of
six children of a cotton broker. He earned his baccalaureate from the
University of Texas, where he also received a law degree. He and his
wife, world-class marathon runner and attorney Ellen Hart Peña,
live with their two children in Alexandria, Va.
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