Senate Proceeding on Sep 9th, 2009 :: 0:34:20 to 0:39:10
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0:34:17 to 0:34:37( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: forward and get it to the president's desk and it make a difference in the lives of tens of million americans. i yield the floor, mr. mr. durbin: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from illinois. mr. durbin: i see the senator from florida on the floor. at this point i would like to preserve the remaining time of morning business on the

0:34:20 to 0:39:10( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Mel Martinez

0:34:38 to 0:35:00( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: democratic side and yield to the senator from florida or whoever will be business on the other side. i ask unanimous consent. the presiding officer: objection. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from illinois. a senator: let me thank the senator from illinois for his kindness and appreciate the opportunity to proceed with my final speech on the floor of the senate, which is a unique moment

0:35:01 to 0:35:22( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: in time for sure. mr. martinez: the opportunity to serve in the united states senate is the culmination of what has to be an unlikely journey from a place of my birth in a small city in cuba to having journeyed to the united states and had the incredible opportunity to be in the hall of this most cherished institution

0:35:23 to 0:35:44( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: of democracy anywhere in the world has, indeed, been a privilege and unlikely journey, as i say. i'm really very grateful to the people of florida for giving me the opportunity to represent them in the united states senate. i really do think of my time here in the senate as a culmination of my time in public service. the close of a fulfilling chapter in my own version of the

0:35:45 to 0:36:05( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: american dream. having lived through the onsit of tyranny in one country and played a part in the proud democratic traditions of another, i leave here with a tremendous sense of gratitude for thepportunity to give back to the nation that i love and it's not the nation of my birth, but it's the nation of my choice, which is a significant difference.

0:36:06 to 0:36:27( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: it is a great nation, and the proud tradition of welcoming immigrants to this country is one that has been throughout the history of this nation, but then in addition to welcoming, it has given us the opportunity to do the great things that all who are a part of this country can do. and i've been more privileged than most in the opportunities i've been given. so that's why i considered

0:36:28 to 0:36:50( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: serving my community, my state, and our nation for the past 12 years a really it was a desire to give back, to make a consideration to this nation that propelled me to enter a life of public service. as a mayor and cabinet secretary and as a senator, preserving opportunities for others to receive their own claim to t american dream has always been a mission for me.

0:36:51 to 0:37:11( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: i have worked during all phases of my public life with a sincere desire to make a difference and today i prepare to return to -- to return home knowing that i have done my best to advance the things that make our nation great, prosperous and free. we truly live in the greatest nation in the history of the world and throughout my life i public service, i have been

0:37:12 to 0:37:33( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: humbled to play a proud role in this democratic history of our nation. as mayor of orange county, it was a real pleasure and that had done so much for me and my family when we first arrived in this country and then had an opportunity to lead them as mayor was a rare treat and wonderful opportunity.

0:37:34 to 0:37:55( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: we carried out an aggressive agenda and tried to do the things that -- t who lived in orange county's lives better, i'm proud of some of the things that we accomplished there. upon my service as mayor, i received a call from president-elect them, president bush, to serve as the first

0:37:56 to 0:38:16( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: cuban-american to serve in the president's cabinet. the call to serve as h.u.d. secretary was unexpected and not only a source of pride for me and my family, but emfor the entirety of -- especially for the entiret of the cuban american. my service in the cabinet was

0:38:17 to 0:38:38( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: punctuated by the terrorist attacked of september 11, 2001. these were sober be events, these were events that caused up to that time a fairly carefree, focused on domestic issues kind of time to focus on the reality of what had occurred in new york and pennsylvania 8

0:38:39 to 0:38:59( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: and right here. it was part of my job as h.u.d. secretary to work in the reconstruction of lower manhattan and that and a number of other things were added as responsibility for us who are -- were in the administration at that time. and forever more i will rember those days significant part of my life in public service.

0:39:00 to 0:39:10( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: there is no question that it was a privilege to serve the president, but there is no greater honor than to have the people of florida send me to washington to serve them as a member of the united states senate. and aside from the debates and