Senator Ed Markey

Thank you, Katie, and thank you all.

Thank you, America.

Thank you, resistors.

He wasn't talking about the tens of millions of people like Madeleine Beckett of Lansing, Michigan, who, like so many Americans, worked 45 years, day in and day out, showing up for the job, raised a daughter, and now struggles to make ends meet in this richest, hottest country in the world.

How does that work?

You can't do much in this country if you can't afford a home, if you can't pay the rent.

Too many of my constituents have given up on the idea that their kids might live in the communities in which they grew up.

They have given up on the idea that they might advance and maybe save a little something for retirement or to educate their kids because we have a housing crisis in this country.

We got to build 5 million units just to get back to a place where Americans can afford housing.

And in the meantime, hardworking, middle class, true Americans.

And by true Americans, I mean people who go to work every single day and who at the end of the week worry a little bit about those bills who are coming in the coming week.

Real Americans who understand what it is to live in this country and to work hard and to live with dignity are getting squeezed out.

There have been a lot of politicians up here tonight, but we got to never lose sight of who it is that we're fighting for.

And so for that reason, it is my profound honor to introduce you to Madeline Beckett of Lansing, Michigan.

Madeline, thank you so much for being with us here tonight.