The Louisiana Republican returned to the Capitol for the first time since the June 14 shooting.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise returned to Congress for the first time since being shot on a Virginia baseball field in June by a crazed gunman.
The Louisiana Republican received a lengthy standing ovation Thursday morning as he made his way through the House floor with the help of crutches.
“You have no idea how great this feels to be back here, at work, in the people’s House,” the 51-year-old lawmaker told his colleagues. “As you can imagine these last 3 ½ months have been pretty challenging times for me and my family.”
Scalise became choked up at points as he discussed laying on the Alexandria, Va. baseball field, praying to God after taking a 7.62mm bullet to the hip — which led to surgeries and relearning how to walk.
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“When I was laying out on that ball field… it gave me an unbelievable sense of calm, knowing it was in God’s hands,” he said.
Scalise thanked his wife, Jennifer, as well as his Capitol Police security detail — calling them “angels.”
David Bailey, one of the two officers wounded during the June 14 attack, was in the gallery as Scalise addressed Congress.
“David, you are my hero,” he said.
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He earlier thanked his medical team, which he said basically had to piece together his lower body.
“They did a phenomenal job of … rebuilding Humpty Dumpty,” Scalise, the House Majority Whip, told “60 Minutes” in an interview that airs Sunday. “There was a lot of damage inside that had to get fixed.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) became emotional as he introduced his friend and longtime colleague on the floor.
“Our prayers have been answered,” Ryan said. “America is grateful for this moment.”
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The gunman, James Hodgkinson, wounded five people including Scalise during the shooting, which occurred as lawmakers practiced for the Congressional Baseball Game a day later.
Scalise was in and out of the intensive care unit — first because of the gunshot wound and then for an infection that spiked a fever.
The five-term representative also thanked the bipartisan outpouring of support he received after being shot.
“It really does show the warm side of Congress that very few people get to see,” he said.
He told his House colleagues he’d heard from a wealth of world leaders he already knew — including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and British Prime Minister Theresa May — as well as ones he’s never met.
“Understand that it’s not just us, and our constituents and the country, the United States, that’s counting on us to be successful,” Scalise said. “People all around the world that believe in freedom are count on us as well. And we will deliver for them.”
