[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 18, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S16-S17]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 INAUGURATION OF GOVERNOR TIMOTHY KAINE

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, we had a historic moment in the 
Commonwealth of Virginia this past weekend. I was privileged, along 
with Senator Allen, to attend the inauguration of our new Governor. We 
have an unusual situation in the Commonwealth of Virginia where our 
Governors are elected in what we call the off year for elections in 
America, but it was a very significant occasion for the people of the 
Commonwealth of Virginia.
  An interesting footnote in history: our capitol building in Richmond 
is under renovation at this time. Consequently, very wisely, Governor 
Kaine selected Williamsburg, VA, for the purposes of his inauguration. 
As I said, it was a rainy day, but we all enjoyed it.
  On behalf of the Congressional delegation and the people of Virginia, 
I am privileged to place into the Congressional Record the inaugural 
address given by Governor Timothy Kaine, Virginia's 70th Governor on 
January 14, 2006. Due to the extensive renovation of Virginia's Capitol 
in Richmond, Saturday's inauguration was held at the Colonial Capital 
of Williamsburg for only the third time in the Commonwealth's history 
and the first since that of Thomas Jefferson in 1779.
  Williamsburg, Virginia was home to the first Capitol building in 
America and served as the home of the House of Burgesses. It is fitting 
that this inauguration took place in Williamsburg as Virginia and 
Nation prepares to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of 
the Jamestown settlement in 2007.
  We in Virginia are proud of our longstanding spirit of cooperation 
and bipartisanship among the various branches of government in the 
Commonwealth and with the members of our congressional delegation 
serving in Washington. I look forward to working with Governor Kaine as 
he is the eighth Governor to serve Virginia during my service in the 
United States Senate. It is in this spirit of bipartisanship that I ask 
unanimous consent that Governor Kaine's inaugural address to the 
Commonwealth of Virginia be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

     [From Colonial Capitol, Williamsburg, Virginia, Jan. 14, 2006]

 Inaugural Address of Tim Kaine--70th Governor of the Commonwealth of 
                                Virginia

       Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Mr. President Pro Tem, Members 
     of the General Assembly, Mr. Chief Justice, Members of the 
     Supreme Court, Mr. Attorney General, ladies and gentlemen:
       I am humbled by the trust you have placed in me. With the 
     support of God and my family, I pledge my energy and 
     enthusiasm to the mission of serving this Commonwealth.
       I salute with great respect our dear friend Governor Mark 
     Warner, and I ask that all Virginians join me in showing 
     their public appreciation for his outstanding leadership.
       I congratulate Lieutenant Governor Bolling, Attorney 
     General McDonnell and all the members of the General Assembly 
     who have stepped forward to offer their talents to advance 
     our common good.
       This is a glorious day--the weather is to remind us not to 
     take ourselves too seriously. And how far Virginia has come 
     since we last gathered for an inauguration in Williamsburg!
       Patrick Henry was sworn in here as the newly-formed 
     Commonwealth's first Governor in 1776 and, three years later, 
     Thomas Jefferson followed in his footsteps. Henry and 
     Jefferson stood here in the midst of a war raging on our 
     country's soil, a war that threatened the very existence of 
     Virginia and our young nation.
       They stood here at a time, just as today, when Virginians 
     serving freedom's cause sacrificed their lives so that 
     democracy could prevail over tyranny. They stood here 
     proclaiming the Promise of Virginia, when the world around 
     them doubted that the land of their vision would survive.
       Could Henry or Jefferson have imagined the powerful success 
     of their democratic experiment, their beloved Virginia, as it 
     appears today? As a people, we have come through storm after 
     storm, working out the meaning of our own destiny and coming 
     closer and closer to the Virginia ideal of equality that 
     Jefferson articulated in America's Declaration of 
     Independence.
       As we stand here now, our hearts should be filled with the 
     magnitude of the debt we owe to the generations of leaders--
     the celebrated and the unknown--who fought and worked to 
     create our Commonwealth. The Promise of Virginia is bright 
     today because of their efforts, and it is up to us to carry 
     the work forward for future generations.
       Today's ceremony honors and renews that experiment, and 
     continues the promise that Virginia--which has so often led 
     our nation through the past four centuries--will continue to 
     lead our nation in the 21st century. And we will lead, we 
     will keep the Promise of Virginia bright, if we stay true to 
     the best values that have guided our first 400 years.
       First, we reaffirm the necessity of courage. This is the 
     defining trait of those who came to Virginia aboard the 
     Discovery, Godspeed and Susan Constant, landing just a few 
     miles from this place at Jamestown Island in 1607. They knew 
     that earlier efforts, by the Spanish and English, to 
     establish settlements in this region had ended in disaster. 
     But they crossed treacherous seas to arrive at a new world 
     because they understood the need to do and to dare. Their 
     survival and success depended upon bold leadership. We must 
     be equally bold to tackle the challenges of our day.
       Second, we acknowledge that individual opportunity is the 
     most powerful engine of progress. The first English settlers 
     came as part of a commercial venture, the Virginia Company, 
     seeking economic riches in the New World. Others came seeking 
     the opportunity to worship as they pleased or to trade away 
     an aristocracy of birth for an aristocracy of merit. When 
     individuals have the opportunity to set their own purpose, 
     and determine the bar for their own achievements, they are 
     able to harness their God-given talents and ensure our 
     economic and social success.
       And third, we recognize that our destiny is a shared 
     destiny and that our commitment to community is a condition 
     of our advancement. Our Virginia might not exist today were 
     it not for the generosity extended to those first settlers by 
     the native Virginia tribes living in this region. Without the 
     hospitality of Chief Powhatan or the compassion of 
     Pocahontas, those in Jamestown would have perished. 
     Throughout Virginia's history, we have succeeded only when we 
     have welcomed all to the table of Thanksgiving.
       That same sense of community is required of us today. We 
     must include all Virginians in our efforts. We should 
     continue to welcome newcomers to this Commonwealth and 
     nation, just as Chief Powhatan did 400 years ago.
       Hemos venido hoy dia, a este lugar para recordar la promesa 
     de nuestros antepasados. Como gobernador, sere justo e 
     incluyente de todas las comunidades, con la certeza que 
     juntos lograremos construir un mejor futuro para Virginia. 
     [We have come here today to remember the promise made by our 
     forefathers. As Governor, I will be fair and inclusive of all 
     communities with the certainty that together we can achieve a 
     better future in Virginia.]
       And, we should use this historic time to help those who 
     first helped us by working with the federal government to see 
     that Virginia's native Indian tribes are finally recognized.
       Our challenges today are different than those faced by the 
     Jamestown settlers, or the first Virginia governors. But they 
     require fidelity to the same values. We may not have new 
     geographic worlds to discover, but there are still worlds of 
     research and knowledge, of information and creativity, of 
     commerce and service, of reconciliation and brotherhood, that 
     await our exploration.

[[Page S17]]

       To keep the Promise of Virginia, to succeed, we will 
     embrace our best, historic values and we will work together. 
     Ours will be a non-partisan, Virginia agenda that includes 
     all. At the heart of what I pledge to you today is the desire 
     to keep Virginia moving forward.
       To the people of Virginia: I pledge an administration that 
     will keep the Promise of Virginia strong. An administration 
     guided by the Virginia values of courage, opportunity and 
     community. We will lead boldly and manage wisely; we will 
     protect the liberties endowed by our Creator; we will affirm 
     that family and faith is our bedrock, hard work our way and 
     education our path to progress. When we are true to that 
     promise, we will succeed and truly honor the legacy we 
     inherit.
       To the parents of Virginia: I pledge that our top priority 
     will be raising the focus of our public education system from 
     competence to excellence.
       Thomas Jefferson wrote that progress depends on the 
     broadest possible diffusion of knowledge among the entire 
     population. More than ever, we are now in a position to 
     provide all children with the opportunity to learn and 
     fulfill their God-given potential. And we acknowledge that 
     lifelong learning--from the expansion of early childhood 
     education to world-class higher education, and beyond--is our 
     Commonwealth's top priority.
       To the taxpayers of Virginia: I pledge that we will always 
     remember that what government spends is not its money. It's 
     your money. We will place a premium on accountability; 
     ensuring that your dollars are used responsibly in meeting 
     the priorities that we share.
       To those who commute and travel in Virginia: I pledge that 
     my administration will begin immediately and work urgently to 
     address the transportation dilemma that complicates our lives 
     and threatens our prosperity. Together, let us find answers 
     through a dialogue that is shaped not simply in terms of 
     dollars and cents, but also by new solutions and common 
     sense. A lack of coordination and planning has us stuck where 
     we are today. Let it not be fear and politics that leaves us 
     stranded here.
       To the working families of Virginia and those that employ 
     them: I pledge an administration focused on fostering 
     opportunity and encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit; an 
     administration focused on ensuring that every hard-working 
     Virginian--no matter where they live--has access to a good 
     paying job to provide for their family.
       We will also work with you to find solutions to the problem 
     of accessible, affordable health care; a burden that is 
     overwhelming working families, small businesses and 
     government budgets.
       To those who protect us, our guardsmen, law enforcement 
     officers, firefighters and EMTs: I pledge an administration 
     that will work to ensure you have the resources and the 
     support you need to keep our families and neighborhoods safe. 
     The work you do is dangerous and essential. And we salute 
     your dedication.
       To those who serve in local governments: I pledge an 
     administration that is a good partner with a focus on 
     cooperation and collaboration. The people we serve are the 
     same people you serve. When we work together, we serve them 
     better.
       To those who love Virginia's natural beauty: I pledge an 
     administration that will be a good steward of Virginia's 
     blessings of natural beauty. Our natural resources are 
     essential to both our way of life and our ability to make a 
     living. The streams we fish, the trails we hike, the fields 
     that we harvest and the hills that we hunt with our children 
     today must be protected for them and their children tomorrow.
       And to the children of Virginia: I pledge an administration 
     that will do its all to leave you with a Commonwealth greater 
     than the one we found; filled with opportunities, greater 
     than those of our dreams; a Commonwealth where the Promise of 
     Virginia rings true for every son and daughter.
       I seek the help of all Virginians--regardless of party or 
     region, race or religion--in keeping the promise of Virginia.
       Let us rise to the leadership example of Virginia's first 
     four hundred years. Let us affirm and carry forward our 
     values of courage, opportunity and community.
       Let us remember that civility is not a sign of weakness--
     that cooperation and compromise are necessary for progress 
     and for the sensible solutions we can all embrace to keep the 
     promise of Virginia strong. Under God's hand, we have 
     thrived. If we stay faithful to our history, we will succeed.
       Let us work together.
       Let us begin.

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