On the recordJanuary 12, 2011
We gather here today to honor the victims and the heroes of the tragic shooting that took place in Arizona this past weekend. Gabby Giffords is one of the best this institution has to offer. I have had the honor of working with her on NASA issues in support of human spaceflight. Gabby embodies the type of public servant many of us strive to be: smart, kind, and dedicated, fulfilling her duty representing her constituents. That's why she was holding a public meeting on the first weekend of the new session. I pray for her strong recovery and for her family and staff, and I look forward to working with her once more in this body. I think in the darkest moments in our history we also see the brightest stars. Those stars are the men who wrestled the gunman to the floor, the woman who kicked the magazine away, the loved ones who protected their spouses and children, the intern who had enough first aid training to put pressure on Gabby's head wound, the first responders who responded to that scene, and the medical teams that got most of the victims into the operating rooms in under 38 minutes. Gabby's staff so clearly reflects her character and leadership. Gabe Zimmerman lost his life fulfilling his duty, and two others were wounded. We pray for their recovery and for Gabe's family and friends in this time of tragedy. The efforts of her intern, Daniel Hernandez, may very well have saved Gabby's life, and we will always be grateful for his quick actions.
