[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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