Washington, D.C. – Democratic Governors Association (DGA) Chair Gov. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Executive Director Nathan Daschle today congratulated Gov. Janet Napolitano (Ariz.) on being nominated to serve as the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“Janet Napolitano has been a proven national leader on many policy issues, especially border security and public safety issues,” Gov. Manchin said. “She will bring to the Department of Homeland Security first-hand knowledge and expertise to help keep our nation safe and to tackle the serious challenges of a post-9/11 world.”

Daschle said, “For years, Governor Napolitano has been a powerful force of positive change in Arizona and at the national level. She will strengthen the President-elect’s national security team and help to rebuild the broken state-federal partnership on homeland security and other issues facing our country.”

Following Gov. Napolitano’s resignation as Governor, she will be succeeded by Arizona’s Republican Secretary of State.

“Governor Napolitano’s service to the nation far outweighs the political reality of her appointment,” Daschle said. “Rest assured that Democrats will have a strong candidate for Arizona’s governorship in 2010, but now is the time to celebrate the kind of leadership Governor Napolitano will bring to the Department.”

Manchin concluded, “Janet Napolitano has earned the respect and admiration of Democratic and Republican Governors alike. It has been a pleasure to work with her as Governor, and it will be a pleasure to work with her as the next Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.”

Gov. Napolitano serves on the DGA’s Executive Committee.