Pelosi Remarks at Gabrielle Giffords Honorary Save-a-Life Training
Washington, D.C. - Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks this morning at the Gabrielle Giffords Honorary Save-a-Life Training in the Cannon House Office Building. Throughout the day, the American Red Cross is holding training sessions in honor of Congresswoman Giffords to teach Members of Congress and their staffs CPR and first aid skills. Below are the Leader's remarks:
"Thank you very much, Gail McGovern, for your leadership and the leadership of the American Red Cross. I want to join you in acknowledging the generosity of Safeway and Walgreens for making this Saturday a free one for this very, very important initiative. Thank you, Pia, for all that you have to do, with all that you have been through, to be thinking about how to help other people. And that's of course what Gabby Giffords is directing and that you are enthusiastically supporting.
"So I'm here to endorse Gabby Giffords Honorary Save-a-Life Saturday. Already today I have told our Ranking Members, that means top Democrats on all of the committees, to convey this to their Members, and to our freshman and sophomore Members. Everyone received this message very enthusiastically. We will, with our Caucus, later today. But this ripple effect, this just ever increasing widening circle of people who are able to be a resource in time of emergency is quite remarkable and really Gabby's gift to all of us in this very difficult time.
"I, too, want to acknowledge the good fortune that we all had that Daniel Hernandez was so courageous but so well prepared is the point. And what I learned today already is that Pia Carusone was trained in all of this, herself, so she appreciates the value of what we are doing.
"I am pleased to be here with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a close friend of Gabby's and a supporter of this initiative. And I call Mr. Chairman, Charlie Rangel of New York, thank you, Mr. Chairman for being here and for helping to spread the word on this important initiative. I'm sorry? Oh, David Schweikert is here as well. Oh, David, I am sorry, I didn't see you come in. David Schweikert of Arizona, thank you so much for being here and making this a bipartisan initiative because there isn't anything partisan about it.
"Gail mentioned in her comments, and so did Pia, about how we can be a resource to our families. We can be a resource to our community, our classroom. You name it--we will be a plus on the scene in case of any emergency, but we have to know what we are doing. So, thank you for teaching us. Thank you for leading the way. Thank you for making it free and removing that obstacle of participation.
"And again, what a wonderful tribute to a wonderful person, Gabby Giffords. How pleased she is and Mark as well that so many people have heard the call and are learning something. And you know what? This is going to make a tremendous--Gabby Giffords Save-a-Life- Saturday and the work and leadership of the American Red Cross, as they have always done, made a tremendous difference, now even another big difference for our community. Thank you, Gail McGovern. Thank you, American Red Cross."