Rep. Gabrielle Giffords makes surprise return to US House floor

WASHINGTON - Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has made her first public appearance since the Tucson shooting in January.

Giffords was on the U.S. House floor to vote in favor of raising the debt ceiling.

"The Capitol looks beautiful and I am honored to be at work tonight," she tweeted on her Twitter account.

Video of the House floor just after 4 p.m. showed a standing ovation as Giffords shook hands and hugged others.

“I have closely followed the debate over our debt ceiling and have been deeply disappointed at what’s going on in Washington,” Giffords said in a press release.

“After weeks of failed debate in Washington, I was pleased to see a solution to this crisis emerge," she said. "I strongly believe that crossing the aisle for the good of the American people is more important than party politics."

“It was above and beyond the call of duty,” Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said. “She’s a heroine, an inspiration.”

It was the first vote Giffords has cast since she was shot on Jan. 8 in Tucson.

“She’s remarkable," said Vice President Joe Biden. “Will matters. She is the embodiment of a strong, strong, strong woman."

The House has passed the debt deal, and it will now go to the U.S. Senate.

"I had to be here for this vote," Giffords said. "I could not take the chance that my absence could crash our economy.”

Giffords was among 13 people wounded in the Tucson shooting. Six people died in the incident.