we have a great team he has built up of people from the epc that are just as dedicated as he is.e have worked through some hard work and a lot of difficult conversations. but he has always approached it with compassion and dedication and with a fair sense of equity and making sure that we implement this process with fidelity. he has always stayed true to that. i am very honored to recognize archie fokken from the epc. [applause] >> i do not know what to say. but i think you. -- thank you. this is the first meeting i'm coming to without a powerpoint or some kind of data that somebody is asking me for. so don't ask me. in 1963, my parents emigrated on a japanese trawler to the united states. here in san francisco. i lived out in the mission district. i am born and raised san franciscan. it i really felt the need to keep my roots in the public school system here. darlene is correct, i started when i was 19 in the district. i graduated college and thought i would leave the next year. i am now 45. richard has something in plan for him, too. i'm really thankful to be here. i want to do

. >> on behalf of the epc, i'm pleased to be here tonight.ay from the senate. working here every week. as a coleader of the bpc health project with senator tom daschle, we strive to fulfill that principle -- to fill that example of what senator baker and senator dole were hoping to achieve when they first envisioned this organization of the bpc. i'm here tonight with my good friend mitch mcconnell. first, to tell you my howard baker story. it was 1993. the place, below the tendency. a cold, wintry night. i drove from four hours from nashville to huntsville, his beloved home. the purpose was to seek advice. the doctor, to seek advice from the dean of public service in tennessee. senator baker, i am considering one running for the senate. senator baker, you're not a politician. senator baker, i have to be honest, i have never put out very many yard signs. senator baker, you have not paid your political d. was? along the four hour drive over. senator vitter, i have never run for political office. senator, you are a doctor with no political exper