Wounded Scalise Returns To Capitol To Bipartisan Cheers
WASHINGTON (AP) — To bipartisan hugs, tears and a roaring standing ovation, a hobbling House Republican Whip Steve Scalise returned to the House on Thursday, more than three months after a gunman sprayed fire at a baseball practice and left the lawmaker fighting for his life.
"Our prayers have been answered," House Speaker Ryan says. "America is grateful for this moment." https://t.co/WP46NOB19g pic.twitter.com/xJT1yvH7yD
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 28, 2017
"You have no idea how great this feels to be back here at work in the people's House," the 51-year old Louisianan said to a chamber packed with lawmakers, including senators who crossed the Capitol to welcome him back.
"As you can imagine, these last 3-and-a-half months have been pretty challenging times for me and my family," Rep. Scalise says pic.twitter.com/yoNjII5ovK
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 28, 2017
Scalise limped into the chamber on crutches and wearing sneakers, smiling broadly and blowing kisses in his first public appearance since the June 14 shooting. In an extraordinary gesture, Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., presided and ordered members to sit in their chairs to listen to Scalise's remarks.
"Our prayers have been answered," Ryan said.
The moment marked a departure from the bitter divisions that have dominated Congress this year between two parties locked in combat over President Donald Trump and the GOP agenda.
"It does show the warm side of Congress that very few people get to see," Scalise said.
Scalise and four others were injured when a gunman opened fire on a Republican baseball practice in nearby Alexandria, Virginia. U.S. Capitol Police and other officers returned fire and killed the gunman. The rifle-wielding attacker had nursed grievances against President Donald Trump and the GOP.
Scalise was struck in the hip, and the bullet tore into blood vessels, bones and internal organs.
"They gave me a second chance at life," Scalise says, thanking MedStar doctors who "put me back together again" https://t.co/WP46NOB19g pic.twitter.com/bWFple8ce2
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 28, 2017
Scalise thanked the two wounded Capitol Hill police officers who returned fire and helped kill the shooter, James Hodgkinson of Belleville, Illinois, and the doctors who patched him together through repeated surgeries. The officers, Crystal Griner and David Bailey, were also injured.
"David, you are my hero. You saved my life," Scalise says, pointing out officer David Bailey in chamber crowd https://t.co/WP46NOB19g pic.twitter.com/UuSk7WHyIh
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 28, 2017
"David, you are my hero," Scalise said to Young, who was in the chamber. "You saved my life."
Griner is still recovering at home.
The lawmaker also thanked his wife, Jennifer, who watched from the visitor's gallery.
Those Scalise embraced included Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, who applied a tourniquet that Scalise said helped control his bleeding and saved his life. Wenstrup, a surgeon, was red-faced and teary-eyed.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., praised Scalise's strength and said, "Today we are Team Scalise." Under normal circumstances, she would be plotting to undermine Scalise, who as No. 3 House GOP leader is in charge of rounding up votes for Republican legislation.
But for the day — or for a few minutes, anyway — partisanship was abandoned.
Seated behind Scalise was Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., star of the Democrats' baseball team. Republicans and Democrats alike gathered around Scalise for selfies, a clear violation of House rules that neither party had any interest in enforcing.
At one point, Scalise was handed a baseball bat that he waved over his head, eliciting additional cheers.
"I'm not a big crier, but I was today," Ryan told a reporter afterward.
Scalise's homecoming recalled the August 2011 return to the House of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who was seriously wounded after a mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona.
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