Senator Blumenthal's Commencement Speech Airs on C-SPAN

Senator Richard Blumenthal addresses the Class of 2012.

Senator Richard Blumenthal's Commencement speech was featured on C-SPAN on Sunday, June 3. During his speech, which C-SPAN aired in its entirety, Blumenthal asked the members of the Class of 2012 to pledge to leave the nation better than they found it and to take up the challenges that his generation has so far been unable to solve.

“There are many challenges ahead,” Blumenthal said. “How to develop alternative sources of energy so we can save the nation and save the planet; how to provide better health care and, particularly, to prevent the costly diseases that are within our control to stop; and how to provide skills and training so that we can match people with the jobs that exist and with the jobs that we will create in the future. I don’t doubt that my generation will leave a lot of unfinished business for you graduates and others,” he admitted, “but I also have no doubt that you will live up to this challenge, you will fulfill that compact, you will serve and give back.”

Senator Blumenthal also recognized the seniors who overcame long odds to graduate and thanked all of the veterans who were either members of the Class of 2012 or who were part of the audience.

To watch Senator Blumenthal's address, please visit http://www.c-spanvideo.org.