Lamar Smith: “Today we honor Congresswoman Giffords. The House stands together in support of her and in condemnation of a senseless…”

“Today we honor Congresswoman Giffords. The House stands together in support of her and in condemnation of a senseless attack that severely injured her and claimed six lives. I have served with Representative Giffords on the Science Committee, and am grateful for this opportunity to speak about her character and professionalism. Representative Giffords is a warm, friendly individual who is genuinely interested in others, and who always maintains an upbeat attitude. She works hard to improve the lives of her constituents, and is engaged and energized about issues of concern to them. She also goes out of her way to be accessible, which is exactly what she was doing when this tragedy occurred. The reprehensible attack that took place has united us as Members of Congress and reminded us that while the act of a lone gunman cannot always be prevented, we must make sure that justice prevails and that our democratic ideals remain secure. We hope and pray for Representative Giffords' full recovery.”