Rep. Sander Levin Wraps Up Emotional Goodbye To Rep. Gabrielle Giffords

On Rep. Gabrielle Giffords‘ (D-AZ) last day in the US House of Representatives, where she has served since 2007, many of her colleagues delivered tributes to the heroic departing Congresswoman from Arizona as they debated passage of HR 3801, which Giffords co-authored. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) punctuated the proceedings with a brief, understated, but moving salute to Giffords.

Ms. Giffords is leaving Congress to continue her recovery from wounds she received during the tragic Tucson mass shooting just over a year ago, but before she goes, she has introduced HR 3801, a bill that targets the use of ultralight aircraft in drug smuggling, a key issue in Giffords’ home state.

Levin’s salute was simple and brief, but the grief and affection in his eyes, and in the softness of his delivery, were powerful. “I guess we’ll wrap up,” he began. “I do so, as I look about and think of this institution, it sometimes can be quite impersonal. I think for all of us today this is a very personal moment, and I think all of us join in saluting Gabby and Mark. I yield back the balance of my time.”

Immediately following Levin’s remarks, the House voted to pass the bill, but the chamber recessed pending a recorded vote on the measure.

Here’s the clip, from C-Span:

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