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'It Starts With God': Scalise Returns to Capitol, Testifies About God, Prayer & Miracles

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Rep. Steve Scalise, seriously wounded in a shooting attack at a Washington, D.C., baseball field three months ago, returned to Congress today, summing up in four words his survival and recovery: "It starts with God."

The 51-year-old Majority Whip was shot in the hip and the bullet tore through blood vessels and internal organs.

As he lay wounded on the field with gunfire erupting all around, Scalise said he began to pray and experienced "an unbelievable sense of calm, knowing that at that point it was God's hands."

Scalise told his fellow members of Congress he made some very specific requests in those moments.

"And I will tell you, pretty much every one of those prayers was answered. He really did deliver for me and my family and it just gives you that renewed faith in understanding that the power of prayer is something you just cannot underestimate."

He gave thanks to God for his survival and recovery.

"So, I am definitely a living example that miracles really do happen."

Scalise personally thanked the members of his security detail, Capitol Police officers Crystal Griner and David Bailey. 

When he heard the sound of their rounds firing back at the shooter, Scalise said he knew they were responding.

"One of the things I prayed for is that David and Crystal would be successful in carrying out their duties," he said.

Even though both of them were shot, they took down the shooter and saved many lives.

"David, you are my hero. You saved my life. Thank you so much," he told Bailey who attended the Capitol Hill celebration.

The presence of Rep. Brad Wenstrup, an Army combat surgeon who applied the tourniquet that probably saved his life is just one of the many "little miracles" Scalise said he experienced on that day and through months of recovery.

He's been asked many times if this event has changed him. 

"It's only strengthened my faith in God and it's really crystalized what shows up as the goodness in people. I got to see the goodness in people," he said.

Some might focus on the shooting as "a tragic event and an evil act," Scalise said. "To me, all I remember are the thousands of acts of kindness and love and warmth that came out of this."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, spoke to Scalise after he finished his remarks.

"Thank God our prayers were answered. We all came through this magnificently because of your strength. God bless you."

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