Senate Proceeding on Jul 7th, 2009 :: 2:04:00 to 2:11:25
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2:03:57 to 2:04:17( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: time when our unemployment is 9.5%, this is more important than ever. i i yield the floor. mr. durbin: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from illinois. mr. durbin: i have 12 unanimous consent requests for committees to meet with the approval the majority and minority

2:04:00 to 2:11:25( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Amy Klobuchar

2:04:18 to 2:04:39( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: ask unanimous consent the requests be printed in the record. the presiding officer: without jection, so ordered. a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from minnesota. slab slaminnesota. ms. klobuchar: madam president, it is my honor today along with former vice

2:04:40 to 2:05:00( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: president mondale to escortal al franken as the new senator from our state. al told me the third year of his campaign would be the best. and he was right. i did want to thank my staff, first of all, some of them and many of them e here, for the hard work they did in the past

2:05:01 to 2:05:24( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: six months double double duty. they never complained and did it without extra resources and are as happy as can be this is revolved and something about norm coleman. last week he made a difficult decision. he had a right to pursue a legal challenge but he did what was right for minnesota. norm was my senate colleague for two years.

2:05:25 to 2:05:45( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: we often worked together for should for minnesota and we wish him and his family the best. despite just a little delay, to be exact, 246 days since the election day and 183 days since the senate convened, why would i know that, al franken now joins me in representing the state of minnesota.

2:05:46 to 2:06:06( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: i've gotten to know al very well the past few years and i know that he will be getting acquainted with his fellow senators in the coming weeks and the coming months. this is a special place with special people and i know al looks forward to working with every member of the united states senate. i also know that al arrives in washington ready to get to work

2:06:07 to 2:06:28( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: and ready to serve the people of minnesota. he brings with him that same high energy and passion and idealism of our friend, pl wellstone. i was tellingal that when i first came -- telling al that when i came to the capitol i was stunned how many people came to

2:06:29 to 2:06:49( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: me when they knew i was from minnesota, they said that's where paul wellstone was from, people on the tram elevators, the cops on the front line, they remember paul because of the dignity and how he treated people. al, i know, will do the same. before seeking elective office, al had a full career.

2:06:50 to 2:07:11( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: among other things he was an emmy award winning producer, and best selling author with three books going to the top of the "new york times" best sell are list and the host of a national radio show and a grammy award-winning satarist and has gone four times to iraq to entertain our troops and to

2:07:12 to 2:07:33( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: visit ourounded soldiers. we all know al spent some time in comedy but during this long campaign he has demonstratedded demonstrated to minute pin he takes his job seriously and i know he is taking his new job as senator incredibly seriously. his heart is with middle-class families who work hard, live

2:07:34 to 2:07:54( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: responsibly and know the rules. he knows their hops and fears because he has lived it. when he was four his family moved to southern minnesota. he tells the story of that move. his dad never graduated from high school and never had a career. but his mom's father owned a quilting business out east and

2:07:55 to 2:08:16( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: he gave al's dad a chance to start up a factory in this town. after about two years, the factory failed. and al moves family moved to the twin cities. years later, al asked, why that particular and his dad said well, your grandfather wanted to open a factory in the midwest and the railroad went right through that town so al asked, why did the

2:08:17 to 2:08:38( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: factory fail and his father said "well, it went through the town but it didn't stop in the town." eventually the family, including al, and his older brother senatorred in a minneapolis suburb and his father became a was a homemaker. because of the security and

2:08:39 to 2:09:00( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: opportunity his family enjoyed living in america, he says he felt like the luckest kid in the world. al likes to tell jokes and he has some good ones, he's not one to make fun of family values because there is no husband or near who is more devoted to his family. he met his wife-i see her now in

2:09:01 to 2:09:21( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: the gallery -- during his year at college. they have been married 33 years and together they have raised two children. al tells a story about her family: her dad, a decorated world war ii veteran, died in a car accident when she was 17 months old. the death left her mom suddenl

2:09:22 to 2:09:42( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: widowed and alone with five children. it was a lesson for the family and an example of how one family pulled themselves up with help. he knows how difficult it is for so many families who are struggling to make it squeezed over tighter, over health care costs, college costs, housing costs. during the past two years, al

2:09:43 to 2:10:05( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: has traveled to every corner of minnesota, from the iowa border to the canadian border. he has had coffee at the main street cafes and he has spoken at local bean feeds and toured homegrown businesses and stood with workers, been to veterans halls and he has again to college campuses. he has been there day in and day out, listening to the people of minnesota.

2:10:06 to 2:10:27( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: now he has the honor and the responsibility to serve them in the united states capitol. the united states senate is an old and established institution. for any newcomer it takes some getting used to, to th to the unique customs. this is a big moment for frannie and their kids.

2:10:28 to 2:10:48( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: al and his friends and relatives have been waiting for a while for this. the state has been waiti. the senate has been waiting. but most importantly to me, frannie has been waiting. my f few months was the idea she had actually packed a bag with her toothbrush in it that she had right next to her bedside in

2:10:49 to 2:11:11( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: case atny moment the court would come with a decision and she and al would have to rush to washington so he could take a critical vote. well, today, the time has come and al will cast his first vote. if there is any silver ling to the past eight months, it is that al has had time to prepare for this moment.

2:11:12 to 2:11:26( Edit History Discussion )

Amy Klobuchar: the times are tumultuous, the stakes are high and history forever judge whether we fail or succeed, whether we are courageous or timid. al franken is ready nor this job. it's time to get to work. and al franken, there's a desk