The Honorable Debbie Stabenow United States Senate, Michigan Monday, July 26, 2004

BOSTON, July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of a speech by The Honorable Debbie Stabenow, United States Senate, Michigan, Monday, July 26, 2004:

I've been proud to serve on this Credentials Committee doing the important work of this historic convention with such a diverse group of enthusiastic, hard-working Democrats. I am proud to endorse the report of this committee. Having said that, let me remind you why we are here:

We are here to win back the White House, the Senate and the House. To take back our country from special interests, to create good jobs and expand affordable health care for all Americans, and to win back the respect and admiration of the rest of the world.

My fellow Democrats, I'm from Michigan. I see first hand the damage done by the jobs lost to other countries and the families squeezed between paying the mortgage or paying for overpriced prescription drugs.

I also see the promise of John Kerry-a leader committed to serving all Americans. That's why I am committed to electing John Kerry as our next president of the United States.

John Kerry, John Edwards and the Democratic Party stand ready to make America stronger at home and respected in the world. On January 20, 2005, we will establish two new priorities:

First, we will focus again on exporting American products and stop exporting American jobs. When I look into the faces of Michigan workers whose last assignment before losing their jobs was to train their foreign replacements, it renews my commitment to work for new leadership in America.

And it renews my trust in John Kerry to create 10 million new jobs -- good-paying jobs that let American families actually get ahead -- jobs with a future.

Second, we will renew our nation's commitment to the quality, affordable health care that Americans need and deserve. John Kerry and I are working in the Senate to end the senseless ban on buying lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada. And President John Kerry will allow our government to negotiate the lowest possible prices from domestic drug companies.

John Edwards and I are working in the Senate for a patient bill of rights to hold HMOs accountable and to make sure doctors make medical decisions, not insurance company bureaucrats. And on inauguration day, I look forward to working with them both to increase access to health care and to help businesses provide health insurance to their workers at lower costs.

Job creation and access to health care are only two of many pledges we make to the American people. In the next three months, we will speak directly and forcefully about these and other values we share-faith, family, opportunity, service, and responsibility.

In Michigan, we know how to build things, and I am confident that working together, all of us will build a stronger, safer, and smarter America with John Kerry as our President.

Thank you.

Source: Democratic National Convention Committee

CONTACT:  Peggy Wilhide of the Democratic National Convention Committee,
+1-617-366-3100

Web site:  http://www.dems2004.org/