U.S. Sen. Al Franken cried Thursday while speaking on the Senate floor, advocated for the Violence Against Women Act. Senators reauthorized the legislation, which aids law enforcement efforts to combat domestic violence.

During his speech, Franken teared up when he invoked the memory of his friend, Sheila Wellstone, the wife of former U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone. The couple and their daughter died in a plane crash less than two weeks before the 2002 election.

"In my state, nearly one in three homeless women is fleeing domestic violence and half of those women have children with them," Franken said as tears streamed down his face.

"That's not the world that Sheila Wellstone envisioned. Nobody should have to choose between safety and shelter. While the link between violence and homlessness is undeniable, it is not unbreakable."

Franken was addressing a bill provision that he introduced: the Housing Rights for Vicitms of Domestic and Sexual Violence Act that would make it unlawful to evict a woman from federally-supported housing just because she is a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking.

Here's a look at the video: