there was one sibling younger than frannie who was two months old. frannie's family made it fairly, they made it, thanks to social survivor benefits and sometimes often they were hungry because there wasn't enough food but they made it. frannie and her three sisters all went to college on scholarships and programs. at the time a full program paid for about 80% of a public college educatione but today it only pays about 35%. when she went to high school my mother-in-law got a g.i. loan for $300 and went to college. she got three more loans, graduate from college and became teacher.tary school because she taught title i kids, poor kids, all her loans were forgiven. my brother-in-law neil went into the coast guard and became an electrical engineer. every member of her family became a productive member of society and member of the middle class. they tell you in this country to pull yourself up by the strap. but first you have to have the boots. government to social security survivor benefits and programs and the g.i. bill and title i the federal governme

selfishly, i will miss franni's amazing homemade pies. as my friend departs, i am left at this difficult moment with this thought -- that i have been fortunate in the senate to have had a colleague to whom it is so hard to say goodbye. i yield the floor. the presiding officer: the senator from oregon. mr. merkley: madam president, back in 2007 and 2008, a group of us who had never run for congress or for the senate jumped into campaigns against an incumbent in this body, hoping to fight for a vision of government of, by, and for the people. al franken was one of those individuals taking on an incumbent republican, norm coleman, and as i heard him on the campaign trail, i heard what we heard today in his speech -- a willingness to fight for that vision so embodied in our constitution of government that would provide a foundation for families to thrive, that would lift everyone up, not a government of, by, and for the privileged. not a government of, by, and for the powerful. it takes a lot of guts to throw yourself into the political world

he walked into the capitol today hand in hand with his wife frannie. they've been together quite a long time through all of franken's ups and downs as a comedian. many of those he had to apologize for or try to re-explain when he did try to enter public life as a senator. i think there had been a sense in the last year that he had successfully made the transition from comic who had said and made inappropriate jokes in the past to a politician, and for many years here on the hill, he would not engage with national reporters, he didn't crack jokes in public, and that had started to change. he put out a new book, he had started to be funny in public again, and then a couple of weeks ago, this came out and clearly has ended his career here in the united states senate. now, many of his staff members were on the floor for that speech. he acknowledged them in his speech, and he said he would be leaving, of course, at the end of the year. andrea? >> thanks to you, ka sirks arkk you've been covering this throughout. tom brokaw joins us. i remember you and i wer

we saw before he was speaking there, his wife franny of 42 years walking into the capital was at his side through all of this. he was making the case as well and will continue to do so. awe of these allegations and reports are not equal. he wanted to sort of leave on a high note there in a distinguished setting of the senate floor as opposed to in a rushed speech someplace. he deserves that. his transition from a comedian to a serious senator did happen in the course of his first term and he was never sure that was the case. during his first term he was never sure he would be taken seriously. i think he leaves being taken very seriously and he knew he had to do it for the good of the party. >> that's the key. the politics. >> and it's politically expedient to do so. they have a democratic governor and gives them the upper hand next week. >> that's the key that. cannot be under estimated. the fact that you had the majority of his democratic caucus coming out and say it's time for him to go. less than a week before they expect to have a new republican senator from alabama assuming that

he has been a champion if for our state and i know that he and frannie will continue to work for our state and our country. and i want to thank his statue as well as here and in washington, d.c. for your work to help minnesota. you do that every day in thousands of ways. this work continues and we still need you. i want to take a moment also to express my deep gratitude for the opportunity to serve with governor mark daten. i have seen how mark brings integrity, heart and a packs for justice to his job. he's an exceptional leader and i'm so proud to have served with him. the men and bill in our office and the 34,000 people who everyone? state government are some of the best, most dedicated public servants that i have ever known. i have loved this job. my family is here today. didn't want to stand too close. my husband archie. our sons sam and mason and their wives and our daughters emily and julia. i'm so proud of you have. i love you and i'm so grateful for your love and support. finally, i want to thank the people of minnesota for this opportunity to have served you in the state ca

i always think-my wife franni and her family. when franni was 17 months old, her dad, a decorated world war ii veteran died in a car accident, leaving her mom widowed with five kids. neil, the brother, went into the coast guard and became an electrical engineer, but all four girls went to college and they pent on imi -- and went on combinations of pell grants and scholarships. back then pell grants covered 80% of the cost of a college education, today it is less than 35%. so today kids have to work while they go to college. that's not new. but when i've done roundtables at colleges across minnesota, many of them tell me they are working full time in addition to going to school full time. it seems like it might make it harder to focus on your studies or to stay awake. that's why i've been working to bring down the cost of college, increase financial aid to students and make textbooks cheaper. we need to help millions of americans refinance their student loan debt at lower interest rates and we need to help low and middle-income st

franni and her three sisters all went to college on combinations of scholarships and pell grants. at the time a full pell grant paid for about 80% of a public college education, but today it only byes about 35% -- pays for 35%. when bootsy went to high school, my mother-in-law got a loan and became an elementary school teacher. because she taught title one kids all her loans were forgiven. my brother-in-law neil went into the coast guard and became an electrical engineer. every member of fran's family became a productive member of society. they tell you in this country to pull yourselves up by your bootstraps, but first you've got to have the boots, and the federal government, through social security security survivor benefits and pell grants and the g.i. bill and title 1, the federal government, gave my family the boots, and that's why i'm a democrat. that's why i'm a democrat. over the years i've heard democrats and republicans talk about their own values, the things that they believe that brought them to politics, the things that make them care about what happens here. i've lea

. >> now, franny, this pj set, i love it, it's a three piece. the pants and tops and the shorts. it's the yummiest and soft estimate cute colors. it's 75 dollars and our holiday price, $39. >> good cuddle gear right there. remember to get the holiday steals and a sneak peek, go to morning save.com. and happy holidays. ♪ >>> coming up, she is a wife and mom, but on tv, she is a care giver from hell. >> she is a danger to the children. the kids are fine. >> shes that star of "the mic," kaitlyn olsen. >> what was the most bizarre awkward thing you had to do as mickey? >> you mean. >> "extra," real estate. >> how much www.cost to frank bey frankel's new york apartment. >> and more deals from the pop up shop coming up. >>> even though it's probably 68 degrees, we thin skinned california ans are freezing. >> well, she stars in the comedy, all about putting the fun in dysfunctional. with me is caitlin olsen. she is mucky and she is everything you would want in a >> good morning. >> she is a danger to the children. >> the kids are fine. >> they do not look fine. >> how much fun to be lea

. >> frannis and i want the to know how do they keep the snow off the lines of the field. >> that's ay had to ask you thanks for joining us tonight. see ♪ think of your fellow man, ♪ lend him a helping hand, ♪ put a little love in your heart.♪ ♪ you'll see it's getting late, oh please don't hesitate...♪ ♪ put a little love in your heart.♪ ♪ in your heart... ♪ in your heart... ♪ in your heart... ♪ in your heart. (vo) going on now, our subaru share the love event will have donated over one hundred fifteen million dollars to those in need. when you're clocking out. i'm the one clocking in... sensing your every move and automatically adjusting to help you stay effortlessly comfortable. i can even help with a silent night. does your bed do that? i don't actually talk, but i can tell you how you slept. i'm the new sleep number 360 smart bed. let's meet at a sleep number store. billy... chambers? billy chambers is the mole?! i assumed he went off the grid. if i had stabbed someone to death in cold blood with a pair of scissors and got away with it, i'd skip town and never be heard from again

you don't want to see this happen and of course my husband and i are close with franny as well as their kids. it's a hard time, but at the same time you have to think of the victims. not just in his case, but cases across the country. we are seeing a transition like we have never seen. the hope is this will result in safer workplaces and also workplaces where people treat other human beings with civility, respect, and dignity. >> in his resignation speech, senator franken was defiant in tone. i want you and the viewers to listen to part of it. >> some of the allegations against me are simply not true. others i remember very differently. i of all people am aware that there is some irony in the fact that i am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the oval office and a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls campaigns for the senate with the full support of his party. >> senator, he never apologized. what did you think of it? >> at the same time the fact remains that he resigned. he resigned from the united states senate and you have s

franni and her three sisters all went to college on combinations of scholarships and pell grants.at the time a full pell grant paid for about 80% of a public college education, but today it only byes about 35% -- pays for 35%. when bootsy went to high school, my mother-in-law got a loan and became an elementary school teacher. because she taught title one kids all her loans were forgiven. my brother-in-law neil went into the coast guard and became an electrical engineer. every member of fran's family became a productive member of society. they tell you in this country to pull yourselves up by your bootstraps, but first you've got to have the boots, and the federal government, through social security security survivor benefits and pell grants and the g.i. bill and title 1, the federal government, gave my family the boots, and that's why i'm a democrat. that's why i'm a democrat. over the years i've heard democrats and republicans talk about their own values, the things that they believe that brought them to politics, the things that make them care about what happens here. i've lear