My experiences have been a testament to the incredible promise that our nation holds, one we feel proud to call home – a nation that shines like a beacon to the world and that inspires us so that we may dare to achieve our own American dream.
Unfortunately, the President of the United States does not share this vision for our country. In his first year in office, he has pushed a dark and extremist agenda that damages our national values and endangers national security.
His administration threatens to drag our nation back to a shameful past, one in which our people were judged, not by the quality of their character, but by the color of their skin and by their religious beliefs.
Immigrant families – who have given new life to the American dream through their arduous work and trust in American values – are facing uncertainty, anxiety and terror under President Trump.
The President has the responsibility of fostering unity, of protecting us and preventing the divisions that weaken our nation. From the start, however, he has neglected our most fundamental American values. He has replaced equality with intolerance, replaced mutual respect with racism.
The President has attacked our families. He eliminated DACA and has threatened to deport young patriotic and brave Dreamers – who call the United States their home, because it is the only one they know.
The President has attacked those who are most vulnerable, ending protections for families fleeing persecution, from wars and from natural disasters. These people have acted in accordance with the law, they have paid taxes. The President has also failed in his duty to protect our families in Puerto Rico who were affected by hurricane Maria. This is unjust. This is unacceptable.
He has demeaned communities of color – launching a mass deportation agenda, and insulting the heritage of anyone who doesn’t look like him. He has imposed a hateful, immoral ban against our Muslim brothers and sisters.
And moments ago – in the presence of patriotic Dreamers in Congress – the president presented his plan, which would fundamentally change the character of our country, a plan that does not align with the visions held by our founding fathers, who viewed diversity and immigrants with pride.
We should not accept nor normalize the atrocious and insulting way in which this president characterizes our communities. Doing so would mean giving in to a false and dangerous narrative.
Instead of appointing professionals with a track-record and experience to government roles, he has named a cabinet of multimillionaires who are only worried about using their posts to help the wealthy.
Instead of defending workers, President Trump mortgaged the future of our children, pushing forward a Republican law that increases taxes for 86 million middle class families. This law grants 83 percent of the benefits to the wealthiest 1 percent of the population.
Instead of supporting families, President Trump tried to take away health care from millions of families. He also wanted to destroy protections for people with preexisting conditions, and to punish the elderly with a cruel tax just because of their age.
Instead of fighting for the middle class, President Trump rolled back progress towards an overtime wage raise. He also rescinded laws allowing workers to keep the tips they have earned through their hard work. The President has sided with the big banks, and dismantled protections that keep service members, seniors and young people safe from Wall Street’s fraud and abuse.
We, as Americans, deserve a leader that defends the interests of the middle class – not someone who helps the privileged and powerful step on everyone else.
It does not have to be like this.
We, the Democrats, have a vision for the future in which children and families, not big corporations and multimillionaires, come first.
During his first year, President Trump and the Republican Congress have mistreated the American people.
Meanwhile, us, Democrats, will keep fighting so that the American people get A Better Deal: with better jobs, better pay and a better future.
A Better Deal means a better life and a new vision for the future that is bold and broad.
Create an additional ten million high-paying, full-time jobs for American workers;
We will lower the high cost of living for families by reducing the cost of prescription medicines and by taking firm measures against monopolies, which destroy competition and increase costs;
We will also provide each American with the necessary tools to succeed in the 21st century, with lifelong education and training that will pay off at work.
Our mission is to give the power back to the American public and to fight for the hardworking people that the Trump administration has forgotten about.
The strength of our nation is measured by the healthy, prosperity and happiness of all its people – not just the privileged few.
We need a change.
Us Democrats are ready to reclaim our nation – but we cannot do it alone.
We need your voices and your energy. We need you to protest and to make your voices heard. We need you to vote. We need you to run for office – whichever that might be. And we need you to work hard so that we can win.
I was told that Virginia wasn’t ready to elect a delegate with Latina roots – and look what happened.
We need candidates and leaders with stories similar to mine – candidates that fight for the men and women who work day and night, for those who still need 2 or 3 jobs to earn enough to make a living.
We need candidates that fight for the parents who risk their security and safety to chase their American Dream; that fight for the mothers and fathers of families like ours.
We need candidates who worry about the fact that our children are at risk of inheriting a nation that no longer believes in equal opportunities for all.
Over 238 years ago, our founding fathers gathered to form a more perfect union, and to ensure that we would have liberty for all, including future generations.
We are these future generations, and our job is not finished.
Together, we must build a nation for all, one that we can all be proud of.
Let’s keep fighting for the future we deserve.
God bless you. Thank you, and good night.