On the recordMarch 10, 2014
I will ask the Senator about some of the vulnerable communities in his State, but I will go about it this way. I have such great memories of my father and grandfather, both of whom passed away. Probably the first time I passed through the Senator's State was in a mobile home, in which my grandfather took us and drove us across the country. I saw America, north and south. We did that a number of times. I remember standing with him and looking at Mount Rushmore. My grandfather had a great sense of humor, and if he didn't know a historical fact, he would just make it up. But he taught us to appreciate and love this country. My father was the same way. He grew up in the mountains of North Carolina and took me there as a little boy and with such pride showed me mountains and lakes, and I fell in love. My mom also took me around New Jersey to some of our great parks and hiking the Palisades of New Jersey. I have incredible memories of the Jersey Shore and walking the boardwalk with my hand in my parents' hands. All these memories are so great. My father had this story that I think makes this point about tonight. One of the slogans for tonight is ``Wake Up.'' My father tells a story about a guy walking along and sees a porch, a man sitting in a rocking chair, and this hound dog sitting next to him. The hound dog is just howling away like he was in great pain. The man says, ``What is wrong with your dog?…
