Whereas Gabrielle Giffords was elected to the House of Representatives to represent the 8th district of Arizona in 2006 and served from January 2007 to January 2012; Whereas Giffords has served the public for over 15 years; Whereas Giffords was the youngest person ever elected to the Arizona State Senate, serving from 2000 to 2005; Whereas Giffords was the third woman in Arizona history elected to Congress; Whereas Congresswoman Giffords was widely known for her middle-of-the-road political views, problem solving ethos, and commitment to bipartisanship and cooperation; Whereas Congresswoman Giffords’s many achievements and inspirational service in Congress included contributions to the strength of our armed forces, the security of our nation, the health and welfare of our veterans, our progress toward a clean energy economy, and the interests of her constituents in her beloved southern Arizona district; Whereas Giffords prided herself on being accessible to her constituents; Whereas on January 8, 2011, while listening to her constituents at a Congress on your Corner event in Tucson, a gunman attempted to assassinate Congresswoman Giffords; Whereas Congresswoman Giffords was shot and wounded along with 12 others while an additional 6 people were killed, including her congressional aide, Gabriel Zimmerman; Whereas in 2013 Congresswoman Giffords formed an organization to promote gun violence prevention and responsible gun ownership; Whereas Congresswoman Giffords continues to serve the American public by being an outspoken advocate for solutions to gun violence; Whereas Congressman Leo Ryan was an elected member of the House of Representatives for the 11th district of California from 1973 through 1978, championing causes related to equality, freedom, human rights and the protection of our democratic institutions, and represented an unwavering example of dedication to public service