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The total number of votes on the historic debt-limit bill was 430. One vote was more memorable than any of the others.
Seven months after she was shot in the head, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords returned to the House on Monday to cast her vote. Thunderous applause and emotional hugs from her Republican and Democratic colleagues greeted her.
Giffords’ entrance, with just minutes remaining in the vote, surprised lawmakers and added even more drama to a high-stakes day. The Arizona Democrat responded to the attention with a smile, and she mouthed ‘thank you’ several times.
“We were just hugging. Girl hugs” – said Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. Other colleagues, surprised and joyful, made their way to greet her as she was enveloped in a cluster of Democratic lawmakers.
Giffords used one hand to greet some, the other by her side. Her hair was dark and closely cropped, and she wore glasses. Her image was quite different from the one Americans saw seven months ago when she was sworn in for a third term by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
“It was one of the most thrilling moments for all of us to see this real heroine return to the House” – Pelosi said, “and to do so at such a dramatic time.”
Giffords cast her vote for the bill, which passed 269-161.
“She is a model for the attitude that we should all have because she is tenacious and she is relentless in her love for America. … You were missed and we’re glad to have you back” – said Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas.
Giffords exited the House chamber by the east door, leaning heavily on an aide as she walked with obvious difficulty. Her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, accompanied her. Police had cleared a path through a mob of reporters, and Giffords did not respond to questions and greetings.

Gabrielle Giffordss.

As Rep. Gabrielle Giffords returned to the House floor on Monday night for the first time since being shot inthe head in January, members of her district staff – watching on TV from Tucson – were in tears.
“There was silence and sniffling. It was very emotional” – spokesman C.J. Karamargin told the Arizona Daily Star. “This is something people have been thinking, dreaming about for months.”
Since soon after it became clear that Giffords would survive her injury, colleagues, staffers, her husband and many observers have been envisioning her triumphant return to Capitol Hill. It came Monday night as Giffords stood to applause and waved as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi addressed the House ahead of the vote to raise the debt ceiling.
Giffords insisted on being on hand Monday for what her office considered the most important vote of the year, Karamargin said. In a statement, Giffords said that she has ‘closely followed the debate over our debt ceiling and have been deeply disappointed at what’s going on in Washington.’
“I strongly believe that crossing the aisle for the good of the American people is more important than party politics” – she added. “I had to be here for this vote. I could not take the chance that my absence could crash our economy.”
Staffers often write members’ press releases, but Karamargin told The Arizona Republic that the statement contains “the congresswoman’s words.”
Karamargin told the Star that before Giffords returns to Houston, where she’s recuperating at astronaut husband Mark Kelly’s house, the congresswoman will attend some NASA events with him.
Though Giffords’s brief return to Congress was a big step, Karamargin cautioned the congresswoman is still far from a full recovery.

A standing ovation greeted Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords as she appeared on the floor of Congress to cast her first vote since the January 8th shootings in Tucson.
In the District that she represents those closest to her smiled from ear to ear, with a lump in their throats and tears in their eyes. C.J. Karamargin said: “It was a very emotional moment, I don’t think there was a dry eye in our office.”
It was hard to find a dry eye anywhere in front of the television sets showing the scene. In the nation’s Capitol Republicans and Democrats alike were overjoyed to see Gabby back at work. “I think it is a testament to her own determination and her focus but also to her patriotism. This is a really important issue for the United States and this is a critical time” – said Karamargin.
Other survivors of the January 8th Tucson shooting were thrilled to see Congresswoman Giffords back in Washington. “I was overwhelmed, I have such a big smile on my face this is so healing, so therapeutic for everybody” – said Suzi Hileman. Hileman was shot three times by the same gunman who shot Giffords. She’s happy to see how far Gabby’s come, but not surprised. “She’s inspiring! Rehab is very very hard and I know what it took to get there, to travel and to stand, and do what we elected her to do. I couldn’t admire her more,” Hileman said.
Bill Badger was also wounded that tragic day. He’s been wearing Gabby’s name on his wrist ever since. “The first thing that came to my mind was the tragic event on January 8th. And the next thing that came to my mind is how great it is to see the recovery that she’s made” – Badger said.
Gabby Giffords appears to be racing along in the fast lane on the road recovery and for many she’s just what this country needs right now. She’s an inspiration and an example of how tough americans can be when They put their hearts and souls into something.