Gabrielle Giffords

Giffords Resigns From Congress: 'I Will Recover And Will Return' (VIDEO)

David Taintor | January 25, 2012, 11:42AM

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords submits her resignation letter to House Speaker John Boehner.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords bid farewell to the House of Representatives Wednesday morning receiving an emotional standing ovation from her colleagues.

The Arizona congresswoman submitted her resignation to House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) just over a year after a horrific shooting in Tucson that left six people dead and Giffords critically wounded. Since that time, Giffords has made incredible progress, but she is resigning to continue focusing on her recovery. The House met Wednesday morning to take up Giffords final piece of legislation, designed to give stiffer sentences to smugglers who use small, ultralight aircraft to bring drugs into the U.S. from Mexico.

House leaders paid tribute to Giffords' public service ahead of her resignation. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said Giffords is "the brightest start this Congress has ever seen," adding that Giffords will be missed.

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Gabrielle Giffords

Gabrielle Giffords Resigning From Congress

Eric Kleefeld | January 22, 2012, 2:05PM

Updated 2:50 p.m. ET

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), who was shot in the head a year ago at a district event, announced in a video posted on YouTube Sunday that she will resign from Congress this week, in order to focus on her medical recovery.

Giffords was upbeat in making the announcement, but it was an acknowledgment that the severe injuries she suffered in the shooting, including profound brain damage and cognitive impairment, had ultimately forced her to relinquish the seat in Congress that had made her a target in the first place.

A combination of luck, top-flight medical treatment and personal strength had enabled Giffords to survive the massive trauma to her brain caused by the shooting that left six others dead, including a Giffords aide and a federal district judge. After the initial shock and once it became clear Giffords would survive her injuries, supporters not only entertained the thought of her running for re-election in 2012, but even seeking the Senate seat of the retiring Jon Kyl, an office for which she would have been a leading contender prior to the shooting.

Today's announcement was a sober reminder of the damage inflicted by the mentally disturbed lone gunman accused in the shooting, Jared Loughner.

The Arizona Daily Star reports:

Before she leaves office, Giffords will finish her Congress On Your Corner event that was interrupted by a gunman on Jan. 8, 2011. In a private gathering in Tucson, Giffords will meet with some of the people who were at the event, her staff said.

"Arizona is my home, always will be. A lot has happened over the past year. We cannot change that. But I know on the issues we fought for we can change things for the better. Jobs, border security, veterans. We can do so much more by working together," Giffords said in the message.

"I don't remember much from that horrible day, but I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice. Thank you for your prayers and for giving me time to recover.

"I have more work to do on my recovery so to do what is best for Arizona I will step down this week. I'm getting better. Every day, my spirit is high. I will return and we will work together for Arizona and this great country. Thank you very much."

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