Pelosi Floor Speech Honoring Congresswoman Gabby Giffords

Washington, D.C. - Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor today to honor Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who returned to Congress for the first time since the tragic shooting in Arizona to vote on the Budget Control Act of 2011.  Below are the Leader's remarks:  

"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.  I, too, want to join our colleagues in recognizing the contribution of the pages to the conduct of the House of Representatives.  I thank them, and they have, as Mr. Kildee said and others have mentioned, born witness to many important historic occasions here.  But I can't think of any that is more special and means so much to our country than to witness the return of our colleague, who was the personification of courage, of sincerity, of admiration throughout the country, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords brings us…[Applause.]

"Her presence today makes sure that we honor the obligations of our great country, is important and symbolic.  Her presence here in the chamber, as well as her service throughout, her entire service in Congress, brings honor to this chamber.

"We are all privileged to call her colleague, some of us very privileged to call her friend.  Throughout America, there isn't a name that stirs more love, more admiration, more respect, more wishing for our daughters to be like her, than the name of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.  Thank you, Gabby, for joining us today."  [Applause.]