“Senator Kennedy dedicated his professional and public service career to working people, seniors and children. His legacy is long and vast. Anyone who has lost their job recently can thank Senator Ted Kennedy for COBRA. Anyone who suffers from mental illness can thank Senator Ted Kennedy for improving mental health coverage. Senator Ted Kennedy also was instrumental in increasing the minimum wage, which is so vital to workers in the Tampa Bay area, and for defending Americans’ civil rights. There is a void in the U.S. Senate today, but his influence will be felt for generations and generations.”