***VIDEO of Senator Murray speaking on Senate floor AQUÍ***
Washington DC - Today,U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) spoke on the Senate floor following the news of Senator Dianne Feinstein’s passing. Video is AQUÍ.
Senator Murray’s full remarks as delivered:
“Mr. President, yesterday, the senior senator from California came onto the floor through those doors to do her job. She voted. She voted to make sure that our country would continue to move forward and not shut down.
“That was Dianne. She did her job every day.
“She cared about her country. She cared about her state. She cared about doing a job, no matter how tough it is, for the future of America. And she did it with dignity and respect every single minute.
“Today, you will hear accolades from across the country. Lists of her legislative accomplishments, from her early days all the way through her career.
“What I just want to say today—it is a true loss to America. It is a loss to her family—my heart is with you.
“It is a loss to her colleagues from California, who have served with her and know her as I do—as a tower of strength.
“To our colleagues on the floor who have worked with her on a laundry list of legislation that you will hear about, and that is way too long to list today.
“To her constituents, you need to know: we depended on her, just as you did. And she was here every day to fight for you—no matter what.
“She fought for women. She fought for those who were victims of gun violence. She fought for foreign policy that was remote to most people, but she knew every detail.
“And when Dianne spoke, the rest of us stopped, and we listened.
“Mr. President, she was a friend. I was sworn into office a few weeks after she was, and she was always there for us—in matters big and small. In matters of our country, in matters of policy, and always—as a friend.
“To those of you who don’t know, she was the most generous senator I have ever known. I remember one time when I noticed that her purse was really nice, and I said ‘Dianne, that purse is beautiful.’ Two days later, I got one delivered to my door.
“That was Dianne. She saw people. She knew people. She saw that she could be someone that we all needed, and she saw that she could be there when she was needed—and she was there.
“Mr. President, I will have more to say about my friend of more than 30 years over the next few days—and I’m sure you will hear so much today.
“But Mr. President, I’m so sorry I didn’t hug her when she went back out that door yesterday.”
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