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Rep. Lynn Woolsey

Madam Speaker, I have the privilege of serving with Gabby Giffords on both the Science, Space, and Technology Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee, and she has always stood out as someone of great energy, intelligence and integrity. She is exactly what you want a member of Congress to be, and a role model for young women who want to serve their communities through elected office.

This unspeakable, gruesome attack has shocked and saddened us all. But one thing it will not do, in this body, is conquer our spirit or stop us from doing our jobs. Gabby Giffords was wounded because she saw it as her duty to engage directly with the people for whom she works, hearing their concerns and fielding their questions, putting them in touch with their government. That is how we do it in a democracy, and the violent acts of one madman will not change that.

Those who were tragically killed in the attack were holding up their end of the democratic bargain--active citizens eager to connect with their representative. Also, there were other public servants, a federal judge who had sat on the bench for nearly 20 years, and a member of Gabby's staff, whose dedication reminds me so much of the young people who work for me. My heart goes out to those who loved Christina Taylor Green, Dorothy Morris, John Roll, Phyllis Schneck, Dorwan Stoddard and Gabriel Zimmerman. Even as we mourn their deaths, may we celebrate their rich and glorious lives. Let's also send our get-well wishes to all of the wounded and our undying gratitude to the first responders, including the courageous intern who may have saved Gabby's life.

There is every expectation that Gabby will make a full recovery. And hopefully she will return to the House of Representatives to continue a promising career in public service. I can think of no greater gift we can give her--no better way to honor her--than to put this House in better order.

I hope we can dedicate this session to her, conducting our debate on health care and other issues with passion and conviction, but also with maturity and respect. As we take up our important business, let's do it in a manner worthy of Gabrielle Giffords. As a tribute to her, to those who died, and to everyone whose lives are forever changed by this senseless shooting, let's do our work in a way that showcases the very best of our democracy, just as it was on display in that shopping center the morning of January 8.