Hours after the House majority whip was shot during a practice for a charity baseball game, his fellow lawmakers took to the floors of the Senate and House of Representatives with impassioned statements.
"We are united in our shock. We are united in our anguish. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us," House Speaker Paul Ryan said.
"For this person to take this action was so cowardly, so cowardly. ... And we will use this occasion as one that brings us together, not separates us further," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said.
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"And I know this House wants to state unequivocally that we are, as ever, awed by the tremendous bravery of the Capitol Police," Ryan said.
"I was with Sen. Paul in the gym, who had been there, and he told me had these two Capitol Police officers, who were part of Congressman Scalise's detail, not been there, it might have been a massacre, 'cause there would have been no one to respond," Sen. Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor.
The House abandoned plans to continue with legislative business and adjourned until Thursday morning.
