David Perdue: “I rise today to address for the first time this august body, the United States Senate--the greatest governing body ever…”

“I rise today to address for the first time this august body, the United States Senate--the greatest governing body ever conceived. Out of respect, I have waited until we passed the 100- day mark to deliver this speech, but I rise today because I believe our Republic is in grave danger. We need to create a new beginning by dealing with the very real crisis of leadership we face today. It is why I ran for the Senate in the first place--because we need a new perspective in Washington. Like many Americans, I am outraged by Washington's dysfunction, its fiscal irresponsibility, its lack of leadership in foreign policy, its intrusiveness and overreach, and its negative impact on hard-working Americans. Before being elected to the Senate, I had never been involved in politics. Simply put, I am a political outsider committed to changing the direction of our country. I grew up in a small military town in Middle Georgia, working on our family's farms. My mom and dad were public school teachers, and I grew up modestly, as did most people there. I worked my way through college and was blessed with a business career that took me from the factory floor to become a Fortune 500 CEO. My story is not unique. It is the American story. Only in America is this possible, thanks to hard work and self-reliance. It is called the American dream, and it is our job to make sure it lasts.…”