On the recordJanuary 23, 2012
I'm so grateful that as we prepare to receive the President tomorrow night for his State of the Union Address that we're going to be joined by our colleague, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords. The courage that she has shone in her long recovery has been an inspiration to all of us, and I'm proud to call her a friend. Last year, in the aftermath of that terrible and tragic shooting, we came together as a Congress for the State of the Union. We put aside our partisan differences, and we convened as a united body. Republicans sat with Democrats, conservative Members sat with liberal Members. It was a small but symbolic gesture that this place can rise above partnership for the greater good of this Nation. As cochair of the House's Center Aisle Caucus, I, along with my fellow cochairs are calling on this House to do it again. Tomorrow night, let's sit together, let's show the Nation again that with Gabby in our midst we can be one rather than be divided. Now our small but growing caucus brings together Members who believe that we can discuss issues in a civil and respectful manner. I hope that all of you, all of my colleagues, will join us in an effort to build on the success of last year and start a new bipartisanship tradition in this House. ____________________
