Ryan calls baseball shootings an 'attack on us all'
House Speaker Paul Ryan told lawmakers of both parties they were a 'family' and called and called the shooting attack that injured fellow representative Steve Scalise an attack on 'all of us.'
'These were our brothers and sisters in the line of fire,' Ryan told lawmakers from both parties who gathered in the House chamber to hear his remarks following the stunning attack that injured the House majority whip.
'An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us,' he said, earning a standing ovation at the end of his short remarks.
Ryan began his remarks by mentioning Scalise, the congressional staffers, and the Capitol Police officers who got shot, and pointed to an photo on social media of Democrats praying for their fellow lawmakers after they heard the news.
House Speaker Paul Ryan earned a standing ovation after delivering a unifying speech following Wednesday's shooting
'My colleagues, there are many memories from this day we will want to forget, and many images we will not want to see again. But there is one image in particular that this House should keep. And that is a photo I saw of our Democratic colleagues gathered in prayer this morning after hearing the news,' Ryan said.
'You know, every day, we come here to test and challenge each other. We feel so deeply about the things we fight for and believe in. At times, our emotions can get the best of us. We are all imperfect. But we do not shed our humanity when we enter this chamber,' Ryan said.
Ryan has presided over a contentious chamber, with deeply entrenched partisan camps. The GOP majority wields near total control over the agenda, and has pushed through such items as an Obamacare repeal that Democrats uniformly oppose.
Although he wields the gavel in a deeply divided chamber, Ryan is well regarded personally by members on both sides of the aisle.
Lawmakers applaus after Speaker Paul Ryan's emotional remarks
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) (L), and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) walk to a congressional briefing about todays shooting at the Congressional baseball practice, on June 14, 2017 in Washington, DC
'For all the noise and fury, we are a family. These were our brothers and sisters in the line of fire. These were our brothers and sisters who ran into danger and saved countless lives,' he said.
'So before this House returns to its business, I want us to slow down and reflect, to think about how we are being tested right now. Because we are. I ask each of you to join me in resolving to come together. To lift each other up – and to show the country, show the world, that we are one House. The people's House—united in our humanity.'
Ryan spoke after a shooter, who has been identified as James T. Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Illinois, opened fire during morning practice for the GOP congressional baseball team.
“For all the noise and fury, we are a family,' said Ryan
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California followed Ryan
He died from gunshot wounds after being tackled by two hero Capitol Hill Police officers.
Ryan was followed by minority leader, Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who noted her shared Italian heritage wiht Scalise. She told lawmakers: 'I pray for all of you, all of you together' every Sunday.
She said she now prays not just for their well-being but for their safety.