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Representative Steve Scalise returned to work on Thursday for the first time since being shot at a Congressional baseball practice, telling his colleagues that he’s witnessed “the warm side of Congress that very few people get to see” during the past three months of recovery.
House Speaker Paul Ryan introduced Scalise to the floor, saying that “our prayers have been answered. America is grateful for this moment.” The House Majority Whip was welcomed with a standing ovation before addressing his colleagues, many crying or fighting back tears.
Scalise was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after the shooting, which took place on June 14th at a field in Alexandria, Virginia. He’s undergone multiple surgeries and rehabilitation treatment since over the past few months.
“I’m definitely a living example that miracles do happen,” Scalise said.
He said that while’s it been a challenging time for his family, “the thing that really overwhelmed us from the start was the outpouring of love and wealth and prayer” from constituents, democratic and republican colleagues, and world leaders.
Scalise also thanked God, his wife, and Capitol Police Officer David Bailey—one of the first officers to fire back at the scene. “David, you are my hero, you saved my life,” he said.
Scalise was shot by a single bullet that entered his left hip and traveled straight across toward the other hip, Medstar Washington Hospital officials after the shooting. Police identified 66-year-old James T. Hodgkinson, of Belleville, Illinois, as the man who shot Scalise and four other victims. He died from injuries sustained in the firefight with police.
In his first interview since the shooting, which will air on 60 Minutes on Sunday, Scalise told Norah O’Donnell that his femur was shattered and his hip and pelvis had serious damage. “They did a phenomenal job of rebuilding, you know, kind of [rebuilding] Humpty Dumpty,” Scalise said, according to an interview excerpt from CBS. “I mean, there [was] a lot of damage inside that had to get fixed.”
After his speech on Thursday morning, Scalise cast a vote favor of a bill that would extend tax benefits to hurricane victims.
While he’s back to work, he’ll also be completing an extended period of outpatient rehabilitation in the coming months, according to a statement from his office.
