it has made thisted ates the most prosperous nation the world hasknown. in the mid 1840s and '50s, during the irish potato many of fled to the united states. hoping for survival across the ocean. in the galleys of the ships that sailed from the ports in england and ireland in places like dublin and cork, the irish government posted bulletins with the heading, "advice to irish immigrants." the posters read, "in the united states, wealth is not idolized, but there is no degradationlabo" youth may follownyout being loo and he may rationally expect to raise himself in the world by his labor. over 100 years ago, this man, that same promise of america led my grandfather to come to ellis island and massachusetts to pursue his dreams and opportunities. that, to me, typifies the america and virginia we all believe in. that's the america that we are blessed to call home. over the next 60 days, our job is to enact policies to ensure this remains a commonwealth of opportunity where any man or any woman of any race or any creed, from any beginning and any place, will