My work as secretary of state was not influenced by the outside forces.

Instead of gutting consumer protection, we should be expanding it.

In most of the USA, the three largest health insurance companies in each state control 80 percent of the market. No wonder premiums are going up.

And as secretary of state, I fought hard for American businesses to get a fair shot around the world and to stop underhanded trading practices like currency manipulation and the theft of intellectual property.

Let us say with one voice, the words of James Cleveland's great freedom hymn: "I don't feel no ways tired. I come too far from where I started from. Nobody told me that the road would be easy. I don't believe he brought me this far to leave me."

Senator Kennedy inspired so many with his decades of service, so I can't think of a more fitting tribute then working to educate and motivate future generations of citizens and public servants alike.

I want to focus on what are called kitchen table issues. You know, the ones that keep you up at night, like the cost of childcare and college and prescription drugs and so much else.