Wednesday, August 26, 2009
On the Passing of Senator Edward Kennedy
Today my thoughts are with the Kennedy family as they mourn the loss of their father, grandfather, husband and patriarch. Their grief is shared by all of us in Congress who have lost a friend and role model. I personally was honored to serve with Ted Kennedy and call him my friend.
In Ted, Americans had a staunch advocate for the rights worth protecting: ensuring a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, making sure that every kid has the education and opportunity they deserve and the cause of his life, access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. I worked side-by-side with him to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act and will never forget his compassion for individuals with disabilities and the opportunity he gave me as a young senator to spearhead that legislation.
As Congress continues its work on these and many other issues, we will remember Ted Kennedy every step of the way. The liberal lion no longer roams the halls of Congress, but his legacy remains.
We must now rededicate our efforts toward passing legislation to provide robust, quality health insurance coverage for all Americans.
