Tom Udall: “I just want to rise, similar to others in our class, and many other Senators have risen, to talk a little bit about Mark…”

“I just want to rise, similar to others in our class, and many other Senators have risen, to talk a little bit about Mark Begich and his service to Alaska and praise him for his service, because I think he has been--since I have been here, the 6 years I have served with him; he was in my class--I have seen a remarkable Senator who truly cares about his State and has been an incredible advocate for his State. I was not here for his entire speech, but I turned it on. The good thing about our offices is you can tune it in. I caught the point where he got a little bit choked up about Deborah and Jacob. I got choked up, too, in the office. I can cry but not in public. In any event, the first thing I know about Mark is how much he cares about his family and how much the toll of serving in the Senate takes on that family. His travel--I am a westerner, and I have to travel out 5 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours to get home. His flight is always--we heard the description the other day from Senator Murray. He flies all the way out to Seattle at the end of the day. It is 12:30 our time when he arrives there. Then he gets on another flight for another 4\1/2\ hours up to Anchorage, just to get home. It is not a very long weekend. Then he has to get on a flight and come back. His family is so important. I have seen him with his son Jacob. We live just across the alley from each other.…”