Remarks by Representative Linda Sanchez at the Democratic National Convention

Federal News Service

July 27, 2004 Tuesday

HEADLINE: REMARKS BY REPRESENTATIVE LINDA SANCHEZ (D-CA) AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

LOCATION: THE FLEETCENTER, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

BODY:

REP. SANCHEZ: Good evening. I'm Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, and I am honored to represent the people of the 39th District of California. (Cheers, applause.) I know firsthand what it's like to live paycheck to paycheck, to struggle to buy your own home, and to wonder how you're going to pay off your college loan.

I'm the daughter of Mexican immigrants who came to this country wtihout a dime to their names, no jobs waiting for them, and very little knowledge of the English language. But they believed in the American dream and worked morning and night to give their children an opportunity for a better life. Every single one of their seven children went to college. Even my mother, at the age of 40, got her diploma. And who would have thought that Loretta and I would one day make history as the first two sisters ever elected to the U.S. Congress? (Cheers, applause.)

Today Americans deserve a president who understands the value of a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. We deserve a president who is committed to affordable health care and affordable prescription drugs. That president, my friends, is John Kerry, and we will elect him in November. (Cheers, applause.)

We Democrats will win because we know the struggle of the American worker. I've personally been to factories and talked to the men and women who are the backbone of our country. From the time I was 13, my father, a machinist, would take me to work, where I saw the pride and integrity in the eyes of the workers. This experience molded me into a civil rights and labor attorney, and I will always remember my conversations with workers on the floor of that shop.

That's why my goal is to help working men and women who get shortchanged, denied and mistreated. I'm here to tell you that as an advocate, as a woman, as a Latina and as a proud, dues-paying member of the IBEW Union -- (cheers, applause) -- that there's only one candidate in this race who believes that everyone should have a fair shot at the American dream. That man is John Kerry, and if we elect him president, I know that he's going to stand for working families.

John Kerry is the only pro-worker, pro-famiy and pro-jobs candidate in this race, and only he can make sure that America, in word and deed, will be sronger at home and respected in the world.

Thank you so much. Muchisimas gracias, y bueno noches. (Cheers, applause.)