In last speech, Sen. Mel Martinez says he's `grateful to people of Florida'
BY LESLEY CLARK
lclark@MiamiHerald.com
WASHINGTON -- Retiring Sen. Mel Martinez delivered his final remarks on
the Senate floor Wednesday morning, declaring he was leaving with a
``heavy heart.''
``I am very grateful to the people of Florida for giving me the
privilege ofrepresenting them in the United States Senate,'' said
Martinez, who leaves his first term with 16 months to go.
``Having lived through the onset of tyranny in one country and played a
partin the proud democratic traditions of another, I leave here today
withtremendous gratitude for the opportunity to give back to the nation
I love,'' said Martinez, who was born in Cuba.
His temporary successor, George LeMieux, watched from the gallery, along
with Martinez's family and Senate staffers.
Martinez declared ``tremendous progress'' on a number of issues,
including efforts to protect Florida's coast from oil rigs, modernizing
the military throughincreased shipbuilding and working to protect home
buyers from bad loans,bad investments and predatory lending practices.
He said he'll continue to speak out on democracy for Cuba, which he said
``has always been and will continue to be a lifelong passion.''
``It is my fervent hope that one day in the not too distant future, the
peopleof Cuba will live in freedom with dignity and the hope for a
better tomorrowthat is their God-given right,'' he said. ``Even though I
will no longer hold public office, my passion to work and devote myself
to seeing a day when the people of Cuba can live in freedom will continue.''
He said he was leaving with a ``sense of regret'' that Congress had been
unable to reach an agreement on revamping the nation's immigration laws.
``I hope Congress can one day reach consensus on the issue because
fixing ournation's broken immigration system remains a national
imperative,'' he said.
He also delivered a special message in Spanish to South Florida's
Cuban-American community.
``You embraced me and believed in me,'' he said in Spanish. ``We shared
pride in who we are and what we have accomplished. Your enthusiastic
support has touched my heart for aslong as I live, and I will treasure
these things forever.''
Martinez quoted José Marti as he closed: ``Liberty is the essence of life.''
``As a public servant, his words have stuck with me as I have worked to
ensurefreedom and opportunity continues to flourish across my state and
our greatnation,'' he said.
In last speech, Sen. Mel Martinez says he's `grateful to people of
Florida' - Afternoon Update (stories) - MiamiHerald.com (9 September 2009)
http://www.miamiherald.com/1374/story/1224813.html
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