[The following is the text of Rep. Jim Maloney's acceptance speech at the Ct. Fifth District Convention - Sat., July 22, 2000]
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| Jim Maloney gives his acceptance speech at the July 22, 2000 nominating convention at the Hotel Elwood in Waterbury. |
For the past four years, it has been my privilege to represent you in Congress.
My approach for being a good representative is straightforward: I listen to the people of our district, go to work and get real results.
I go to Congress not just as an elected official, but as a husband, a son, a brother, and a father. I understand the concerns of the families across this district because I share those concerns. In fact, the very reason I stand before you today as a member of Congress is because of family.
Like all parents, my wife Mary and I, want to provide real opportunities for our three daughters—Adele, Anna and Ellen. That's why I work hard each and every day for this district—to provide real opportunities for all of the families I represent.
Growing up the oldest of ten children, I learned the importance of family at a young age. I firmly believe that this election is about family - yours and all of those across the Fifth District.
I want to share a story with you about some of these families.
The City of Meriden was home to the Napier plant until last year when the company was sold. Over 300 employees, many of whom had worked at the company their entire adult lives, were given just 20 minutes to get out of the building.
As the employees packed up their things, they were concerned about their families. How they would keep a roof over their heads, put food on the table, pay for health insurance, and find a new job in a rapidly changing economy.
People don't deserve to be kicked out of lifelong employment on 20 minutes notice. They deserve to be treated with respect. So I went to work to get the employees extended unemployment benefits, continued health care coverage, and the opportunity for job retraining. Some of them already have new jobs, and others continue to take retraining classes – especially in computers – to upgrade their skills for today's changing work world.
I learned of a problem, I got to work, and I got real results for the Napier employees and their families.
Helping the Napier employees was the decent thing to do, the right thing to do.
But, helping the Napier employees is just one example of how I have worked hard and gotten real results for this district.
Let me mention a few others things, that working together, we have achieved:
Here in Waterbury, I worked for our new veteran's health clinic at St. Mary's hospital, because our veterans deserve the best that we can give them—and they certainly deserve quality, accessible health care.
And it is federal funds, specifically targeted by my efforts, that are rebuilding I-84 from Southbury to Waterbury, and an expanded 84 from downtown Waterbury all the way through Cheshire to Southington.
In the Naugatuck Valley, my brownfield legislation is helping turn seemingly obsolete industrial sites into valuable, useful pieces of land— for a new, growing economic base— and giving families new opportunities to prosper.
In Fairfield County, I have secured funding for the development of my plan to improve the Metro North Rail Line, which will improve the daily lives of thousands of commuters, and help clean up the environment in which our children live and grow.
In the Danbury area, I have made real progress on improving Route 7 North—so that the great economic growth in that part of our district can continue to flourish.
And, again in Meriden, I have secured funding to finally solve the serious flooding problem that has plagued downtown Meriden for 100 years—so that the families of Meriden can have a safer and more prosperous city.
All across this district, I fight everyday for the things that truly matter – like—most importantly-- education.
We must continue to push for higher educational standards. The new economy demands that our children be better prepared than ever before.
We must push to make our schools more accountable – our teachers and administrators work for us and our children – and we have every right to demand that all of our children are receiving a truly quality education.
We must also assure that our schools have the resources – the teachers and facilities— that they need to do the job we ask of them.
That's why I have worked so hard to improve education— that's why nearly every school system in this district has new, federally funded teachers to reduce class size— that's why every middle school in the three largest cities have new, academically oriented, after school programs— and that's why Waterbury is one of only 60 cities nationwide that has a comprehensive federal "safe schools, healthy kids" program, which provides area children with health care such as immunizations, and anti-drug and anti-violence counseling.
And, that's why I have pushed for a $2,000 per year, per child family tax credit, and a $10,000 per year, per student family college tuition deduction-- to ensure that every Connecticut child gets the educational opportunities they need and deserve.
And to ensure that every Connecticut family, from Waterbury to Wilton, from Bethel to Bethany, has the ability to send their children to college— and on to a bright future.
When I think of health care, I think about my younger sister, who's been diagnosed with breast cancer. I've always supported research into breast cancer and other women's health issues – as well as a strong patients bill of rights – but nothing brings it home and gives it passion like the struggle of a loved one. That's why I pushed to greatly expand the federal effort in cancer research, and why last year I helped secure $175 million in breast cancer research funding.
I also think of how much my mom and other senior citizens have to pay for prescription medications—drugs that cost twice as much for the exact same prescription in this country as in Canada or Mexico.
It's a disgrace that seniors on fixed incomes have to choose between buying the medicine they need and the other necessities of life, such as food and housing. Our mothers and fathers who saw our country through the Great Depression, served in WW II and Korea, and taught us the values upon which to properly guide our lives, deserve to live their lives with dignity— and with peace of mind that they do not have to choose between food and their prescription medications.
I am fighting in Congress to ensure that our seniors are protected under Medicare. That's why I have written my own prescription drug legislation that guarantees all seniors prescription medicine coverage.
The current situation is a disgrace, and I am determined to see that it ends—and that every senior has the prescription medicine they need.
When it comes to taxes, I think of Connecticut's families – families that are the backbone of this country, who deserve to reap the benefits of our economic success by keeping more of their own money in their pay checks.
I am proud to say that I have worked hard to ease their tax burdens. I voted to eliminate the marriage penalty tax, to eliminate the surcharge on senior's earnings, and to bolster family savings accounts by expanding tax advantaged opportunities for families to save for their future.
Whether it is working for our families, reducing taxes, saving jobs, improving education, or protecting our seniors, these are not only my visions - they are also the vision of the modern Democratic party. As Democrats, our priorities on these issues stand firmly with the priorities of the families we represent. It is our party, and only our party, that stands up and fights for the families of this country.
In accepting your nomination, I pledge that I will continue working for these priorities in Congress. I will continue to work hard and continue to produce real results for our district and our state.
But I can't do it alone. As I look out into this audience, I see so many people that have played an important part in my life. You are my supporters, my advisors, my confidants…but, most importantly, you are my neighbors and friends. And like all good friends in public life, we have stood together and fought for the values and issues that matter.
But as a Democrat fighting for these issues, I along with my colleagues in Washington have had to deal with a Republican controlled Congress, and their obstructionist policies.
But that, my friends, is about to change.
This is our year. Our year to take back the House of Representatives from the obstructionist Republican party-- the party of big tobacco, the party of big, powerful HMOs, the party of big, greedy oil companies that forced gas prices to skyrocket against the interests of all of our families.
The party that obstructs HMO reform, obstructs campaign finance reform, obstructs education improvements, and obstructs prescription medicine for our seniors.
On one point, ladies and gentlemen, I agree with my opponent. He says he wants to reform Congress, and so do I.
So, let's start reforming this Republican Congress by replacing a few of the obstructionists. How about we replace Tom Delay with John Lewis –Denny Hastert with Dick Gephardt – and Jesse Helms and Strom Thurmond, with Joe Lieberman and Chris Dodd. Let's put Congress back in the hands of the party that does what is right for the families of this country.
And as for the obstructionist Republicans, the time has come for them to go.
But here in our district the national Republicans are supporting a dedicated foot solider from their far right extremist camp— a camp that is trying to obstruct the progress we need for our country. My opponent's record in Hartford is certainly right in line with the harmful policies of his party in Congress.
My opponent sits on the sidelines, talking about the issues, but doing absolutely nothing. He is a say anything, do anything politician, who can hide his headquarters in the sixth district – but he can't hide his record from the people of this district.
To Mr. Nielsen, I say, in the time that it has taken me to deliver this talk, 10 Americans have died from tobacco, from tobacco companies that line your pocket with contributions. Today, I challenge you to return every penny of that tobacco money – that blood money – that your campaign has taken. Stop profiting off of a product that kills people – and then you can talk reform.
As all of us know, campaigns in districts like ours will play an important role in determining the future of our country. As I think about this campaign, and think about this year, I know that we are poised for victory. 2000 is the time, and as I look out into the crowd, I know we have the team.
So I am here to say that we will win this race – we will win it for our district, our state and for our country. On issue after issue, project after project, we have worked hard – and we've achieved real, lasting, and important results.
For me, this is what being a Congressman is all about. Helping people so they can take care of their families. Whether it's easing the tax burden, passing meaningful health care reform, providing a quality education for our children, or helping people with their Social Security or their employment, I see my job as being a worker for the families of this district.
I stand up for all of our families. The people from Napier who lost lifelong jobs, the people who are denied health care because some insurance bureaucrat says the needed treatment exceeds the coverage. The seniors who are forced to choose between buying prescription drugs or putting food on their table.
With Jim Maloney, what you see is what you get. I'm proud to work hard at this job, I call it like I see it, and I get things done. And that's what I'll continue to do in the two years ahead. Thank you.
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