Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) received a resounding standing ovation as she entered the House chamber to attend the State of the Union on Tuesday, in one of her final acts in Congress.
Giffords, who was severely wounded in a shooting last year, announced Sunday that she would resign from her House seat this week.
The Arizona congresswoman also received a very warm welcome from President Obama, who stopped to give Giffords a hug before heading to the stage to begin his speech.
Giffords's husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, was also in attendance last night as a guest of Michelle Obama. Kelly sat between the first lady and Dr. Jill Biden.
Giffords participated in
bipartisan seating along with her fellow lawmakers during the address. She sat between Arizona Reps. Jeff Flake (R) and Raúl Grijalva (D).
The bipartisan seating effort was in part inspired by Giffords herself. The shooting in Arizona took place shortly before last year's State of the Union address, for which lawmakers ended the long-held tradition of sitting according to party affiliation.
The House will meet Wednesday to take up the last bill introduced by Giffords before she steps down from Congress.
