Running for Senate - March 30, 2015

DUCKWORTH: Hi. I'm Tammy Duckworth. I'd like to tell you a little about myself. I'm the daughter of a Marine, a wife, a new mom and a combat veteran. When I was in high school, my dad lost his job at 55 and struggled with unemployment. The bottom fell out for us. For a time, food stamps kept my brother and me from going hungry. Graduating from college was a challenge but I made it with the help of loans, Pell grants and lots of waitressing. That's why I've always believed that it you don't give up on yourself, our nation should never give up on you, either. Bryan and I met when we were both cadets in ROTC. Later I was given the opportunity to become a Blackhawk helicopter pilot and deployed to Iraq. In 2004, while flying a combat mission near Baghdad, an RPG tore through our cockpit, taking my legs and part of my arm with it. The only reason I made it home was because the heroism of my courageous buddies who risked their lives to save mine. I view my time now as a bonus, and that has allowed me to speak up without fear. So when Congress failed to pass a budget, I sponsored the No Budget, No Pay Act and lead by example, returning more than $10,000 of my own pay to taxpayers and cutting over a hundred thousand from my office budget. I'm running for the United States Senate in 2016 because it's time for Washington to be held accountable and to put Illinois' families and communities first. I believe that together we can build an America that is strong from the ground up. >We need more pre-k, we need college loans to be affordable, and the engines of Illinois' economy are small businesses and the middle class. I believe we need tax cuts for them for a change. I look forward to visiting your community soon, and if you elect me as Illinois senator I will fight my heart out to represent you with honor and integrity. Thank you.