NEW YORK, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The following are remarks by the
Honorable Elaine Chao, ending with the introduction of Rep. Portman, as
prepared for delivery at the 2004 Republican National Convention:
Thank you, Mitch. It's exciting to be here in New York.
This is where I grew up and where my family still lives. When I was just a
little girl, my father had a dream of a better life for our family that took
him across the Pacific Ocean, to a land called America.
Three long years passed before my mother, sister and I boarded a freighter
to join my father here.
It wasn't the Mayflower, and it wasn't the Love Boat. But it brought us to
this magical country and reunited our family so it was beautiful to me.
At first, the American language and culture were difficult hurdles for us
to overcome. One evening, shortly after moving into a one-bedroom apartment in
Queens, we were startled by the doorbell.
Nobody knew us, so we wondered: who could be at our door? When we opened
the door, we were startled by the sight of a mob of people in disguise,
pushing bags in our faces while chanting something we couldn't understand.
We thought we were being held up! Terrified, we emptied our cupboards and
gave them all our food.
That was our first introduction to Halloween.
Since those early days, faith, hard work and the kindness of new friends
carried my family forward -- and made it possible for me to become the first
Asian-Pacific American woman to serve in the Cabinet of a President of the
United States.
But, I am not alone.
President Bush has appointed record numbers of Asian-Pacific Americans to
the highest levels of his Administration.
He has opened doors of opportunity to millions of other Americans as well,
by ensuring that quality education is available to everyone -- so that all
Americans have the skills they need to compete in the 21st century economy.
President Bush began by transforming our nation's public schools, and by
extending Pell Grants to one million additional college students.
Now, he has challenged Congress to provide more support for America's
community colleges, which train workers for high-growth fields. He has called
on Congress to reform our federal job training programs to make them more
effective.
For workers experiencing unemployment, the President has proposed Personal
Re-employment Accounts -- which workers can use to get the training and
support they need.
Thanks to President Bush's tax relief, the economy is expanding, creating
more than 1.5 million new jobs in the last eleven months. Today, the national
unemployment rate is lower than the average for the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.
Yet this President will not rest until every American who wants a job can
find one.
For four hundred years, people have come to America seeking freedom and
opportunity. Many, like me, still remember the early days of struggle and
promise on American soil.
For us, President Bush speaks our language -- the language of opportunity,
family and a better future for each new generation.
This is the language we speak in America. This is America's promise of
opportunity. Our ability to put the talents of a nation to work depends on the
re-election of President George W. Bush.
And now, it is my pleasure to introduce the man who has represented Ohio's
Second Congressional District for the last eleven years.
A member of the House Leadership Team and liaison to the Bush
Administration. ... Ohio Congressman Rob Portman!
Paid for by the Committee on Arrangements
for the 2004 Republican National Convention
2 Penn Plaza * New York, NY 10121 * (212) 356-2004
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee
SOURCE 2004 Republican National Convention
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