WASHINGTON — Steady in her sneakers and grasping the helpful hand of a colleague, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords walked onto the House floor as colleagues approved her border-security bill on the day she retired from elected office.
Giffords made her way down the center aisle that divides Democrats from Republicans, a distinction the Arizona congresswoman had tried to blur with her moderate politics and good nature.
Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., the majority leader, said that “while Gabby may be leaving Washington today, I know this won’t be the last we see of her.”
Giffords’ mother, Gloria, watched from the House gallery along with the congresswoman’s husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly.
The legislation approved Wednesday would impose tougher penalties on those who use ultralight aircraft to smuggle narcotics. It passed unanimously 408-0, with Giffords casting her final vote.
One of her best friends in Congress, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., read Giffords’ farewell letter on the floor.
“As I have worked to regain my speech, thank you for having faith in my ability to be your voice,” Giffords wrote. “I have given all of myself to being able to walk back onto the House floor this year to represent Arizona’s 8th Congressional District. However, today I know that now is not the time.
“I will recover and will return,” she concluded.
