Remembering Senator Paul Wellstone

Floor Speech

REMEMBERING SENATOR PAUL WELLSTONE -- (Senate - October 25, 2007)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, today, as we mark the fifth anniversary of the death of Senator Paul Wellstone, I am reminded of what Herbert Humphrey--
another great Minnesotan that served in the Senate--once said:

The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped.

This quote always reminds me of the way Paul lived his life and the legacy he has left behind.

Five years ago on this day, we lost a colleague, a progressive advocate, and a Senator who devoted every fiber of his being to building a better, fairer America. Many of us also lost a close friend who we admired and looked to for advice and support. Paul always stood up for what he believed in and gave a voice to those who were not given a seat at the table. He was the People's Senator through and through.

In the Senate, Paul championed mental health parity legislation to help end discrimination against people living with mental illness. It was a personal struggle for him, as he came to understand the issue through the experiences of his brother. I had the privilege of working with Paul as First Lady and as a member of the Senate's Heath, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee, where no issue was too difficult or challenging, large or small, for Paul to tackle if he thought it would make a positive difference in someone's life.

I remember when I heard that the plane carrying Paul, his wife Sheila, their daughter Marcia, and three of his campaign aides had crashed. Many of us did not want to believe it. No longer would our friend and Senator--indefatigable--come bursting through the doors of the Senate floor, ready to speak out, ready to right a wrong, or address a problem that had to be solved. No longer would Sheila, a dynamic presence in her own right, travel across Minnesota and the country and spread the word about domestic violence and so many other worthy causes.

To ensure that their legacy lived on, more than three years ago, an organization called Wellston Action was established to honor both Paul and his wife Sheila. Through hard work and dedication, Wellstone Action has been able to grow tremendously and preserve the Wellstone way for future generations.

We have a duty in the Senate to never let Paul's legacy fade. I said it 5 years ago and today I reiterate it again, we must work towards the goals and ideals Paul fought for day in and day out: to strengthen our education system, our health care system, our economy, civil and human rights, our Nation. We still feel in our hearts and in our lives this grievous, tragic loss. Today, we not only look back on the life of a Senator who stood up for what he believed in, we look forward to carrying on what he taught us.

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