Washington (CNN) Arizona Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema said the late Sen. John McCain's example is "lighting the way" for her in her first Senate floor speech since taking office in January.

"(McCain) taught us to always assume the best in others, to seek compromise instead of sowing division, and to always put country ahead of party," Sinema said.

Sinema called the Arizona Republican senator and former presidential candidate who died last year at the age of 81 her "personal hero" whose leadership "I sorely miss."

The senator spoke of her work advocating for veterans, and became emotional while talking about Sgt. Daniel Somers, an Arizona Army veteran who killed himself in 2013 after serving two tours in Iraq. She noted Somers' parents were in the Senate gallery for her remarks.

Sinema -- who has introduced the bipartisan Daniel Somers Network of Support Act, which aims to build networks of support for service members -- said Somers had a traumatic brain injury and suffered from depression and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. She said the US Department of Veterans Affairs delayed providing Somers with suitable support and care.

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