House Majority Whip Steve Scalise is scheduled to undergo a planned surgery Wednesday, months after sustaining nearly-fatal injuries after being shot in the hip at the GOP’s Congressional Baseball Game practice in June.
The Louisiana Republican told reporters Tuesday he plans to be back to work in the coming weeks and will be in close communication with Deputy Whip Patrick McHenry while he’s out recovering.
“I have been fortunate to make tremendous progress in my healing from last June’s shooting, and tomorrow I will undergo a planned surgery as part of my ongoing recovery process,” he said in a statement. “I am incredibly humbled by the outpouring of support and prayers I have received from friends and neighbors in southeast Louisiana, my colleagues in Congress, and wonderful people from all across the country.”
Scalise, 52, underwent multiple surgeries, having received multiple blood transfusions after suffering blood loss, preventing him from returning to work until late-September. He was one of the five victims of the shooting in Alexandria, Virginia, where 66-year-old James Hodgkinson took aim at roughly two dozen GOP lawmakers at a baseball field. Capitol Police Officers Crystal Griner and David Bailey, Tyson’s Food lobbyist Matt Mika and congressional staffer Zack Barth, were also wounded in the attack.
“I appreciate all of the continued prayers as I move forward with my recovery, and I continue to be thankful for the dedicated care I am receiving from my medical team,” he said in the statement. “I will remain fully engaged in my work as I heal from this procedure, and I look forward to returning to the Capitol as soon as I can within the coming weeks.”