WASHINGTON — Senate leaders heaped praise on Sen. Daniel K. Inouye yesterday, when he became only the fourth senator in history to cast 15,000 votes.

Inouye, 83, D-Hawai'i, who was first elected to the Senate in 1962, joins Sens. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va.; the late Strom Thurmond, D-S.C.; and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., on reaching the 15,000-vote milestone.

"This historic milestone is compelling evidence of Sen. Inouye's devotion to public service," said Sen. Dan Akaka, D-Hawai'i. "Dan Inouye is an institution without question in the U.S. Senate."

Byrd is the all-time Senate leader on votes, casting his 18,216th yesterday.

Inouye's historic vote came on an amendment concerning the sunset provision in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., praised Inouye's World War II heroism, for which he received the Medal of Honor, and his years of public service for Hawai'i.

"As the first person of Japanese descent to serve in the U.S. Senate, Sen. Inouye is a soft-spoken trailblazer," Reid said. "His heroism and extraordinary lifetime of public service are an inspiration to us all."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., also praised Inouye as an inspiration and noted his quiet demeanor.

"He's the kind of man, in short, that America has always been grateful to have, especially in her darkest hours — men who lead by example and expect nothing in return," McConnell said.

Inouye said he was "most grateful for the generous and warm remarks."

"I shall do my very best to live up to their praise," he said.

Reach Dennis Camire at dcamire@gns.gannett.com.