Shoot victim: ‘Feels great to be back’ in House

HOUSE Majority Whip Steve Scalise returned to Congress on Thursday for the first time since a crazed gunman shot him on a Virginia baseball field in June.

The Louisiana Republican received a long standing ovation as he made his way across the House floor with the help of crutches.

“You have no idea how great this feels to be back here, at work, in the people’s House,” the 51-year-old lawmaker told his colleagues. “As you can imagine, these last 3½ months have been pretty challenging times for me and my family.”

Scalise became choked up at points as he discussed the morning of June 14. He said he was lying on the Alexandria, Va., field, praying to God after taking a 7.62-mm bullet to the hip — which led to surgeries and his having to relearn how to walk.

“When I was laying out on that ballfield . . . it gave me an unbelievable sense of calm, knowing it was in God’s hands,” he said.

Scalise thanked his wife, Jennifer, as well as his Capitol Police security detail — calling them “angels.”

David Bailey, one of the two officers wounded during the attack, was in the gallery as Scalise addressed Congress.

“David, you are my hero,” he said. He earlier thanked his medical team, which he said basically had to piece his lower body back together.

“They did a phenomenal job of . . . rebuilding Humpty Dumpty,” Scalise told “60 Minutes” in an interview airing Sunday. “There was a lot of damage inside that had to get fixed.”

House Speaker Paul Ryan (RWis.) became emotional as he introduced his friend on the floor. “Our prayers have been answered,” Ryan said. “America is grateful for this moment.”

James Hodgkinson, a 66-yearold Illinois man, wounded Scalise and four others during the shooting, which occurred as lawmakers were practicing for the next day’s congressional baseball game for charity. Hodgkinson, who hated Republicans, died in a shootout with police.

Scalise was in the intensive care unit twice — first because of the gunshot wound and then for an infection — as he recuperated.

The five-term representative also thanked the bipartisan outpouring of support he received after being shot.

“It really does show the warm side of Congress that very few people get to see,” he said.