Steve Scalise Returns To The Capitol After Months Of Recovering From Alexandria Shooting
Steve Scalise
Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise  returned to work at the Capitol on Thursday after spending months recovering from the June GOP baseball practice where  he  was shot when a gunman opened fire. "It feels great to be back "  Scalise  told reporters as  he  walked out of  his  office Thursday. Members of both parties stood  applauded  and cheered as  Scalise  walked into the House chamber Thursday morning  using crutches and giving them a wry shake of  his  head. Several members patted  him  on the back and went in for hugs. "Our prayers have been answered " House Speaker Paul Ryan said  introducing  Scalise   who addressed his colleagues on the House floor.
 Scalise  began by thanking members of Congress and the public for an "outpouring of love " saying "it's given us the strength to get through all of this."  He  also spoke of  his  faith  saying that  his  prayers were answered. "I'm definitely a living example that miracles really do happen "  he  said. The lawmaker then went on to thank US Capitol Police officers Crystal Griner and David Bailey who  âafter being shot both themselves  continued to engage the shooter" and   Scalise  said  saved not only his life  but those of everyone on the field that morning. Griner could not be in the House chamber on Thursday   Scalise  said  but members cheered for Bailey who was sitting in the gallery. âDavid  you are my hero. You saved my life  " Scalise  said. After  his  speech  members presented  Scalise  with a baseball bat. A three-wheeled scooter decked out with an LSU Tigers decal and a "MAJ WHIP" license plate was also spotted just outside the House chamber  as  he  was speaking. âStarting today   Whip Scalise  will be resuming  his  work at the Capitol  while also completing an extended period of out-patient rehabilitation over the coming months â according to a statement sent out by Scaliseâs office.
Republicans and Democrats took to Twitter Thursday morning to welcome  Scalise  back to the Capitol. Even a few senators headed over to the House floor to greet  him   including Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn  who said it was "an inspirational day." "It's tremendous seeing  him  back  and I know [ he 's] still got a long way to go " Cornyn said.
A proud moment to be in the Chair today to welcome back my friend Steve Scalise! #ScaliseStrong https://t.co/vXdVFRzMUG
 Scalise  thanked members on both sides of the aisle who supported  him  and sent  him  their well wishes as  he  recovered.  He  specifically mentioned Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond  also of Louisiana  whom  he  called âthe star of the [Congressional Baseball] game too many times.â  Scalise  said that Richmond âsomehow figured out which hospital I was sent to and got there â [ he ] was probably first on the sceneâ after the shooting  noting that Richmond  who had been practicing with Democrats on another field  was still in  his  baseball uniform. "A lot of people ask  did this event change you? ... Yes it changed me  but not in the ways you might think "  Scalise  said. "It's only strengthened my faith in God and it's really crystalized what shows up in the goodness of people. ... To me  all I remember are the thousands of acts of kindness that came out of this. ... [It] helped me realize just how wonderful most people are and just how much compassion is out there." Ryan was "brought to tears" when he greeted  Scalise  earlier Thursday  according to CBS  which is filming a 60 Minutes segment with the Louisiana Republican that will air on Sunday. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke briefly after  Scalise  finished  his  remarks  saying: âThank God our prayers our answered." Cathy McMorris Rodgers  a member of House GOP leadership  told BuzzFeed News  Scalise  had called her Thursday morning to let her know he was coming back. "I thought he gave a powerful speech  wonderful to see him. Amazed that he could walk through those doors after everything he's been through " she said.
 Scalise âs recovery process was long  requiring multiple surgeries and attention to deep-tissue infection related to  his  injuries  after  he  was shot in the hip.
[TGT] returned to work at the Capitol on Thursday after spending months recovering from the June GOP baseball practice where   [TGT]   was shot when a gunman opened fire. "It feels great to be back "  Scalise  told reporters as  he  walked out of  his  office Thursday. Members of both parties stood  applauded  and cheered as  Scalise  walked into the House chamber Thursday morning  using crutches and giving them a wry shake of  his  head. Several members patted  him  on the back and went in for hugs. "Our prayers have been answered " House Speaker Paul Ryan said  introducing  Scalise   who addressed his colleagues on the House floor.
 Scalise  began by thanking members of Congress and the public for an "outpouring of love " saying "it's given us the strength to get through all of this."  He  also spoke of  his  faith  saying that  his  prayers were answered. "I'm definitely a living example that miracles really do happen "  he  said. The lawmaker then went on to thank US Capitol Police officers Crystal Griner and David Bailey who  âafter being shot both themselves  continued to engage the shooter" and   Scalise  said  saved not only his life  but those of everyone on the field that morning. Griner could not be in the House chamber on Thursday   Scalise  said  but members cheered for Bailey who was sitting in the gallery. âDavid  you are my hero. You saved my life  " Scalise  said. After  his  speech  members presented  Scalise  with a baseball bat. A three-wheeled scooter decked out with an LSU Tigers decal and a "MAJ WHIP" license plate was also spotted just outside the House chamber  as  he  was speaking. âStarting today   Whip Scalise  will be resuming  his  work at the Capitol  while also completing an extended period of out-patient rehabilitation over the coming months â according to a statement sent out by Scaliseâs office.
Republicans and Democrats took to Twitter Thursday morning to welcome  Scalise  back to the Capitol. Even a few senators headed over to the House floor to greet  him   including Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn  who said it was "an inspirational day." "It's tremendous seeing  him  back  and I know [ he 's] still got a long way to go " Cornyn said.
A proud moment to be in the Chair today to welcome back my friend Steve Scalise! #ScaliseStrong https://t.co/vXdVFRzMUG
 Scalise  thanked members on both sides of the aisle who supported  him  and sent  him  their well wishes as  he  recovered.  He  specifically mentioned Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond  also of Louisiana  whom  he  called âthe star of the [Congressional Baseball] game too many times.â  Scalise  said that Richmond âsomehow figured out which hospital I was sent to and got there â [ he ] was probably first on the sceneâ after the shooting  noting that Richmond  who had been practicing with Democrats on another field  was still in  his  baseball uniform. "A lot of people ask  did this event change you? ... Yes it changed me  but not in the ways you might think "  Scalise  said. "It's only strengthened my faith in God and it's really crystalized what shows up in the goodness of people. ... To me  all I remember are the thousands of acts of kindness that came out of this. ... [It] helped me realize just how wonderful most people are and just how much compassion is out there." Ryan was "brought to tears" when he greeted  Scalise  earlier Thursday  according to CBS  which is filming a 60 Minutes segment with the Louisiana Republican that will air on Sunday. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke briefly after  Scalise  finished  his  remarks  saying: âThank God our prayers our answered." Cathy McMorris Rodgers  a member of House GOP leadership  told BuzzFeed News  Scalise  had called her Thursday morning to let her know he was coming back. "I thought he gave a powerful speech  wonderful to see him. Amazed that he could walk through those doors after everything he's been through " she said.
 Scalise âs recovery process was long  requiring multiple surgeries and attention to deep-tissue infection related to  his  injuries  after  he  was shot in the hip.