Steve Scalise Gives Rousing Call for Unity in Return to Congress: ‘We Are the People’s House’

In his triumphant return to Congress, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise delivered an emotional speech of thanks and the importance of political togetherness.

Scalise began his address by talking about how prayer and his family helped him find the strength to move through his ordeal ever since the Congressional Baseball shooting. As the Louisiana congressman acknowledged all his well-wishers, he took time to thank Capitol Police Officers Crystal Griner and David Bailey, Rep. Brad Wenstrup, and all of the professionals and medical workers who helped him stay alive over the last four months.

“I’m definitely a living example that miracles really do happen,” Scalise said.

The congressman eventually brought up how many questions he gets about whether the shooting has changed his perspective on anything. Scalise said it did, but that it reaffirmed his belief in human goodness when he saw how much kindness and compassion came out after what happened to him.

From there, Scalise asked the room to be mindful and not take political battles personally as the legislature continues the ideological debate for how to govern the people.

“I have passionate beliefs. For some reason some of you don’t agree with all of those. But it’s so important we come up here. We are the people’s house. This is the place where these ideas are supposed to be debated and we fight through those issues but ultimately we come together on whatever the board shows is 218. If you can put the majority together, that’s what rules the day. It’s so important that as we’re having those political battles, we don’t make them personal. Because one of the things I saw and I guess this is the thing that really kept coming back to me, is I tried to make sense of all this and comprehend the outpouring of love that I saw.”

Scalise concluded by saying that people in the U.S. and all over the world are counting on them to “rise above the challenges of the day” and deliver success to the people.

Watch above, via CNN.

[Image via screengrab]

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