House Majority Steve Scalise, R-La., received a hero’s welcome Thursday morning as he made his return to Capitol Hill and received thunderous ovations from his colleagues more than three months after being shot at practice for the congressional baseball game.
Scalise hobbled into the chamber on crutches, received a nearly 4-minute standing ovation and offered up a smattering of fist-pumps and and thumbs-up signs, then delivered a 15-minute address in which he thanked the outpouring of support he received from all corners of the U.S. and the world. His remarks were also filled with faith, as he talked openly about the prayers he said moments following the shooting.
“I’m a living example that miracles really do happen,” Scalise said.
“When I was laying out on that ball field, the first thing I did once I was down and I couldn’t move anymore is I just started to pray,” Scalise said. “And I’ll tell you, it gave me an unbelievable sense of calm knowing that at that point it was in God’s hands. But I prayed for very specific things, and I will tell you pretty much every one of those prayers was answered. And they were some pretty challenging prayers I was putting in God’s hands.”
The Louisiana Republican thanked people wide and far, but some of the biggest applause came for members of his Capitol Police detail that saved his life: Crystal Griner and David Bailey, who was seated in the gallery and received a massive ovation from members.
Scalise thanked the many world leaders who hoped for his recovery, including many he had never met before. He said those wishes were of particular importance because they viewed the attack up as an attack on the U.S. government and the Congress.
“That touched me in a different way because each and every one of us come here and we fight for the things that we believe. I have passionate beliefs. For some reason, some of you don’t agree with all of them,” Scalise said to laughs.
“Why would leaders from around that world that I’ve never met before reach out and say, ‘Steve, we hope you can get back to work. We hope you can come through this,'” Scalise said. “And what it says is, sure they care about my well being, but they saw this as an attack on all of us. They saw this as an attack on the institution of the United States Congress and our government, and they really count on us to be successful.”
“Look, we all know the United States is the leader of the free world. It’s something that we, frankly, have the honor of as a country to hold as a distinction for generations,” he said. “And yet, when you look at that title, what it really means is there are people all around the world that want freedom, maybe that have freedom, but they know the United States being strong is critical to the rest of the world having the opportunity for freedom.”
Scalise ended his remarks by reminding members that it isn’t just their constituents who are counting on them, but also “people all around the world that believe in freedom are counting on us as well, and we will deliver for them.”
Lawmakers lined up to talk to Scalise for nearly 30 minutes on the floor. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., spoke briefly on the floor about his return, saying that she believes the Italian-American in him helped out with his recovery.
Scalise remained in the chamber after the vote series talking to lawmakers. He exited to the Speaker’s Lobby, bypassing a scooter decked out with Louisiana State University insignia that was waiting to give him an easy ride to a neighboring office. Instead, Scalise walked.
Relying on the arm braces attached above the elbow, he moved along in a business suit and blue sneakers to a room of waiting family and friends. They loudly applauded his arrival, which was interrupted briefly by another GOP lawmaker seeking a hallway selfie.
