Shelley Moore Capito: “a few of us have some remarks to make about the honored Senator from West Virginia. When he is finished with his hugs…”

“a few of us have some remarks to make about the honored Senator from West Virginia. When he is finished with his hugs, we will continue. Mr. President, I want to say to my friend Joe Manchin, wonderful speech. It really had a lot of meaning for me as someone who knows you very well but also to all of us. You have touched everybody's life in this room and many people beyond. So I just want to say a few words about my colleague and my friend and my fellow Senator from West Virginia, Senator Joe Manchin. In just a few short weeks, Senator Manchin--but we all call him ``Joe''--will be retiring from the Senate. But it is safe to say, and he has already guaranteed us, that it will not be the last time that we hear from him. Before he leaves us, I would just like to take a moment to highlight, from my perspective, his impressive and successful career for the country but particularly for our State of West Virginia. I would also like to acknowledge Joe's better half Gayle, up there, and his wonderful family. Gayle has endured all the hard work that comes with public service in her own right, and I would like to personally thank her and both of them as a great couple but also a wonderful and beautiful family that you have. I am so happy that they are here today. It seems just like yesterday that Joe was knocking on my door at 1010 Wilkie Drive in Charleston, WV. He was there to measure the carpet in the house that my husband and I had just purchased as newlyweds.…”