Kick Off Speech

Remarks by Senator Patty Murray
People for Patty Murray
Kick Off Speech-Seattle Washington

Thank you! I am so excited to be with all of you today to kick-off my campaign for the United States Senate.

We're all here for the same reasons: We love our country, we love our state, and we want to make things better.

Since its earliest days, our state has embodied a can-do spirit and a sense of optimism. Throughout our history, Washingtonians have come together to build a stronger state, whether it was bringing electricity and irrigation to the desert or helping our country win World War II and the Cold War.As in the past, today we face challenges in our economy, healthcare, and security. And we rise to meet those challenges with the same optimism and can-do spirit.

In every generation, our people have come together to make our state stronger and to create new opportunities, and I'm proud to stand with you as we continue that tradition today.

My Story

For me, making our state strong is a very personal mission. Eighty-eight years ago, my grandfather chose to bring his family here to Washington State. He looked to Washington and saw a place where hard work could mean a better life. And he was right. He got a job with Welch's Grape Juice in Kennewick and raised his family to value hard work and community. My mom and Dad worked hard to raise me and my six brothers and sisters. My dad ran a dime store in Bothell, and everybody pitched in. After school and on weekends, you'd find all seven of us stocking the shelves and sweeping the floors. But when I was a teenager, my family had a setback. My father was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Before long, my dad couldn't go to work to support our family. But we didn't just look at those challenges and throw up our hands. We drew strength from each other and from our community.

For a few months, my family relied on food stamps to help us through the toughest times. My mom needed to work to support our family, so she went back to school and became an accountant. And with Pell Grants, work study and student loans, all seven of us graduated from college. When my husband, Rob, and I had our own two children, we worked hard to give them the same opportunities our parents and grandparents gave us. Each generation has left our state better than they found it, and now it's our turn to continue that tradition.

Here in Washington, all of the dreams my grandfather had for his family came true. But even in his wildest dreams, he could never have imagined that one day his granddaughter would represent our great state in the United States Senate.

The values we share here in Washington are worth fighting for, and I'm running for the United States Senate so we can build a stronger state, create more opportunity, and preserve the things that make Washington state great.

Our Values

When my grandfather moved here in 1916, he found a community that shared strong values. Those values have steered us through hard times, and those values endure today. We believe in respecting working families. That's why our state was one of the first in the nation to provide family and medical leave. I helped pass that law here as a state senator. And when you sent me to Washington, D.C., I helped bring that nationwide so all families can care for a loved one without fear of losing their job. We believe in protecting the most vulnerable. That's why in 1994 -- when other states did little-our state expanded health insurance to cover kids in poor working families. Our effort was so successful that I helped the rest of the country follow our example.

We believe in honoring the people who protect us - our police and firefighters, our soldiers and their families, and our veterans. We believe in equal opportunity. While other states have only a few women in government, our state leads the nation in women in the state legislature and on the state supreme court.

And we believe in investing in our future. That's why we've attracted so many leading high-tech companies. It's why we lead the world in medical research and aviation. And it's why you'll find apples, wheat and 228 other crops from Washington state on kitchen tables around the world. Our values are the things that make our state great, and as your Senator, I fight to preserve and build on those values every day.

My Job

I have been honored to stand up for you and be your voice in the United States Senate. In 1992, I made a commitment to you that I would always stand up and fight for our state, and I have never wavered. It's the same commitment I make to you today. And I will continue to be a voice for those in our state who often have no voice-the abused spouse, the homeless child, and the new immigrant. And I still have the same standard I had on my first day on the job.

When a bill or budget comes before me, I want to know if it's good for Washington state. If it's good for our state, I support it with everything I've got - and I work with anyone and everyone to make it happen. But if it's wrong for our state, I fight it with everything I've got.

Some people criticize me for telling the White House "no" when they push policies that would hurt our state. But that's what you elected me to do - to stand up for our values and to fight for our state.

I'll Take on Anyone

When it comes to helping our state, I'll take on anyone - the special interests, foreign governments, the White House and even my own party. When the Clinton Administration went after Microsoft, I fought back. Today, this important part of our economy is protected, and Washington state won. When a pipeline explosion killed three boys in Bellingham, I fought back, we passed new pipeline safety laws, and Washington state won. When the Bush Administration tried to shut down our veterans hospitals, I fought back, held a hearing in Walla Walla, and Washington state won. When Chinese 3 producers were unfairly dumping their apple products and hurting our farm families, I fought back, got our apple producers some of the help they needed, and Washington State won. When the crabbing industry at the Port of Chinook was facing a shut down, I fought back, got the port dredged, and Washington State won. When the White House tried to cut funding to clean up Hanford, I fought back, secured the funding and Washington State won. When the Bush Administration threatened to cut funding for port security, I fought back, invested in our ports, and Washington state won. And today, as the Europeans try to dismantle our aerospace industry, I'm fighting back and standing up for our workers so Washington State can win again.

No matter how tough the fight or how long the battle I don't give up. That's why I continue to fight to protect our families from exposure to asbestos. And I'll keep fighting until this deadly substance is finally banned from use in our country.

You know, a lot has changed since I was first elected. I wear glasses now, and my hair may be a little lighter, but one thing has not changed - I still stand up and fight for our state. Whenever our state is threatened, I stand up so that Washington families can win.

As I look around today, I see challenges but I know we can work together to create more opportunities and make our state stronger.

The World We Live In

One of those challenges is our security. It requires strong military action overseas, smart investments here at home, and protecting the rights and liberties that make us free. Washington families know about the sacrifices of war, and they have answered our country's call. Our sailors from Bangor, Bremerton, Everett and our Coast Guardsmen make us proud. The pilots and the crews from Fairchild, McChord, and Whidbey make us proud. And the soldiers from Ft. Lewis and Camp Murray make us proud.

My family also knows about the sacrifices of military service. My dad served our country in World War II. He was among the first to land on Okinawa. He was injured there, sent to heal in a military hospital, and then sent back to the front. When we were young, I followed my husband to Alaska as he fulfilled his duty to the Coast Guard. And as a young woman, during college, I volunteered at the Seattle Veterans Hospital - helping young men who had just come back from Vietnam. As they recovered from their wounds, I was there to show them the face of a country that cared.

Back Seat To No One

When it comes to defending our country, supporting our troops, and honoring our veterans, I take a back seat to no one. When we needed to take on Al Queda, I voted to go to war in Afghanistan. When our Air Force said it needed new refueling tankers to project force around the world, I stood up as the strongest advocate. When our military families told me that their kids were not getting the equipment and armor they needed, I stood up and fought for them. And every time the President has asked for money for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, I have voted to give our soldiers the equipment and resources they need. My family knows the sacrifices of war first hand. And that's why, when it comes to keeping America safe and strong and standing up for our troops, I take a back seat to no one. But I will not be bullied or badgered into going-along to get-along, especially when I think our national interest is at stake.

While some belittle and dismiss the sacrifice Americans are making, the war with Iraq has cost us dearly. Every day we spend more money. Every day we see a neighbor touched by a spouse, a father, or sister being shipped overseas. And every day we are confronted by the loss of more Americans. While we now have an obligation to finish what we started, we have no less of an obligation to be honest with the American people about what it will take. I want to make sure we're doing right by everyone who's protecting us - our soldiers overseas, their families at home, our veterans, and our first responders.

Today, more than 5,000 Washington Guard and Reserve members are serving in Iraq. Their families here at home are struggling to get by with one fewer parent and breadwinner. That's why I wrote a bill to help our Guard and Reserve families. Already the Senate has voted to help families get healthcare, childcare and employer tax credits.

Veterans

As the daughter of a veteran, I know that our commitment to our soldiers does not end on the battlefield.

We have an obligation to care for the veterans who have defended us when they return home. That's why I asked to serve on the Veterans Affairs Committee. I became the first woman in Senate history to serve on that committee, and I'm proud to have a seat at the table defending our veterans. And together, we've made progress-getting POW's the benefits they deserve, providing healthcare for veterans in North Central Washington, boosting survivor benefits, requiring the VA to help veterans get benefits, and ensuring all veterans receive military funeral honors. Most recently, we stood up for our veterans by stopping the Bush Administration from shutting down three Washington state veterans hospitals. Even though so many veterans have to wait for healthcare -and new veterans are coming home in need of help, the Bush Administration thought it would be a good idea to close down our VA hospitals.

That's why I stood up with the veterans, community leaders and families, and together we turned the tide. Today the hospitals at American Lake, Vancouver, and Walla Walla are still open. But we cannot rest in our fight for the care our veterans deserve.

In the next Congress, I will become the chair or ranking member of the Senate Veterans Committee, and I will be there to do everything I can for the men and women who do so much for us.

Homeland Security

We know that homeland security is critical in this new era, and I've worked to boost security at our seaports, airports and Northern Border. Our ports are our first line of defense. They're also a critical part of our economy.

Ever since September 11th, I've worked to make our ports more secure. I worked with the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma to make them the first in the nation to implement tough new security measures. When the Bush Administration tried to take money away from securing our ports, I held up the confirmation of an administration official. The White House gave in, and today our ports are better protected.

I worked to station America's first marine SWAT team here in Washington state to protect our people. I've worked to give our first responders the training and equipment they need, and I've worked to boost emergency planning to protect our communities. In addition, I helped triple enforcement at our Northern Border.

We can make our state and our country a safer place by making the right investments here at home. Whether it's our seaports, airports or borders, homeland security is a challenge, but working together, we can make our state stronger, and create new opportunities for our people.

Strong at Home

To be strong abroad, we also need to be strong at home. And friends, we've got work to do. Unemployment is up, but investment in job training is down. The deficit is up, but protections for our environment are down. And healthcare costs are up, but manufacturing jobs are down. I know we can do better, and that's why I'm fighting to make the investments we need to make here at home - in jobs, healthcare, education and the environment.

Jobs

Taking care of our own means creating jobs here at home and stopping the flow of our jobs overseas. Today, European governments are breaking the rules and hurting our aerospace workers. I'm leading the fight to hold them accountable. I've found an ally in the Bush Administration on this effort and I'll keep working with them just as I would work with anybody else to stand up for our state. To stop jobs from leaving our state, we can give companies incentives to hire Washington state workers. That's why I'm leading the effort to extend the research and development tax credit. It means jobs and new opportunities for our workers.

To make our state stronger, we need to improve our infrastructure. That's why, in recent years, I've brought home more than $700 million for critical transportation projects in every corner of our state. These investments are putting people to work and making our roads, highways and bridges safer and less congested.

And we can't forget the economic needs of our seniors. After a lifetime of hard work, they deserve retirement security. That's why I'm working to strengthen Social Security and Medicare and to make sure they meet the needs of our seniors.

Another way to strengthen our state is to invest in new energy sources. That's why I've worked to increase investments in biofuels, ethanol, and wind farms. These investments will create clean renewable energy that supports our farms, our economy and makes us more energy independent. After all, the less we need foreign oil, the stronger we are in America.

Our economy faces challenges, but working together, we can make our state stronger and create new opportunities for our people.

Healthcare

Being strong at home means improving healthcare for every family. When I travel the state, I see families who can't afford health insurance, seniors who can't fill their prescriptions, and doctors who can't afford to take new Medicare patients. I see businesses struggling with the high cost of health 6 insurance and communities struggling with access. And I see our best and brightest researchers and scientists whose hands are tied by politics.

But I also see people coming together to use technology and innovation to drive down the cost of healthcare, Community Health Centers that are giving our neighbors access to healthcare, and researchers and scientists dedicated to finding new cures and treatments. When it comes to keeping our people healthy, we can make healthcare more affordable. We can stand up for our seniors. And we can make sure that politics does not tie the hands of our top researchers. Healthcare is a challenge, but working together, we can make our state stronger and create new opportunities for our people.

Education

Another way to be strong at home is to invest in our future, and I know how important our public schools are. I taught pre-school, served in the PTA and on the school board. Taking care of our own means making sure that every child, every teen, and every adult gets a world-class education. We know what it takes: quality teachers, small classes, and parents who are involved. I led the fight to hire more teachers so we could lower class size. Because of that, we've hired over 29,000 teachers nationwide to make our classrooms less crowded and more productive. Today, Head Start is under attack. It's hard to believe that a program that ensures poor kids get a fair start in school is under attack, but it's true. I will always stand up for children and will make sure they get what they need for a lifetime of learning.

I am leading the fight to reform our high schools. Too many of our kids aren't graduating because they struggle with school and too many students don't know how to prepare for college. I want to help teachers by bringing specialists into high schools to help kids master reading and writing and to prepare for college.

And I'm working to make sure our schools have what they need to improve. I know many schools are struggling with the unfunded mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act. That's why I wrote the amendment to fully fund the education law and why I continue to stand up for our students.

Educating our children is a challenge, but working together, we can make our state stronger and create new opportunities for our people.

Environment

Being strong at home means protecting the things that make our state great - especially our natural resources. It means making sure the air we breathe and the water we drink are clean. It means preserving our natural heritage, and developing renewable fuels that create jobs, economic growth, and energy independence.

Friends, I was proud to lead the effort to save the Hanford Reach, the last free-flowing stretch of the Columbia River. The Reach is home to the healthiest salmon stocks in the system. It also preserves our history. It's home to our first settlers-the ancestors of today's Yakima, Nez Perce, Warm Springs, Wanapum and Umatilla nations. Today, I'm proud to be fighting to designate over 100,000 acres in 7 eastern Snohomish County as the Wild Sky Wilderness. This area of dense forest, alpine lakes, and salmon bearing rivers and streams is a unique part of our natural heritage that should be preserved. Protecting our environment is a challenge, but working together, we can make our state stronger and create new opportunities for our people.

Conclusion

Whether it's our security or economy, our veterans or students, healthcare or the environment, we have a lot to be proud of here in Washington state.

Today we face challenges - as every generation before us has faced challenges. But we also have a cando spirit and values that guide us in the right direction. Each generation has left our state better off for its children and that's the promise we need to keep today.

You have placed your trust in me, and I have honored it. I made a commitment to fight for you, and I have kept that commitment. And I made a promise to always be your voice, and I have spoken loud and clear on your behalf. And now I ask for your help. Together we can preserve the values and traditions that make our state great. We can add our link to a proud, unbroken chain. When my grandfather moved here 88 years ago, he found a state full of opportunity, and that's the same thing I want my grandson to find as he grows up here. Once again, we can come together and keep the commitment from one generation to the next. We can rise to the challenges before us and leave our state stronger, safer and better for everyone who calls Washington home. Making our state a better place is written in our history. It's etched in our character, and now it's our turn to make our contribution. I know that together, we can do anything. Thank you for giving me your support as I hit the road with my campaign to continue to work for you in the United States Senate.