desperate. madame speaker, the vice president, and the united states senate. it was the day after we had tommy s funeral, so it was a very tender, raw time. and our youngest daughter tabitha said, daddy, don t go. i want you to stay home. i said i have to go in because this is a constitutional responsibility. so i invited tabitha instead to come with me. madame speaker, i want to thank you first and all my dear, beloved colleagues for your love and tenderness, which my family and i will never forget. [ applause ] i felt very disoriented, but i