Rep. Gabby Giffords announces resignation

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who suffered severe wounds after being shot in the head during an assassination attempt outside an Arizona supermarket in January 2011, announced her resignation from Congress Sunday.

In a video posted on her Facebook page, Giffords (D-Ariz.), speaking in a carefully enunciated, yet halting, manner, explained that she is stepping down from the office she held since 2007 to focus on recovering from the wounds inflicted in the attack.

"I have more work to do on my recovery," Giffords said in the video. "So to do what is best for Arizona, I will step down this week."

The video shows Arizona landscapes interspersed with images of Giffords in physical therapy and walking down a sidewalk with a limp, holding hands with her husband, Mark Kelly.

"I'm getting better. Every day, my spirit is high. I will return and we will work together for Arizona and this great country," Giffords said at the end of the 2-minute video.

Giffords' announcement comes more than a year after she was shot in the head by a gunman outside a Tucson, Ariz., supermarket as she was holding a constituents' meeting. The rampage left six people dead and 13 others wounded, including Giffords.

According to officials in Washington, her resignation is expected to take effect Monday.

Under state law, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer must call a special election to fill out the remainder of Giffords' term, which expires at the end of 2012.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), a close friend of Giffords, said in a statement: "For the past year, Gabby has shown the world the person I have always known -- an extraordinary woman of fierce drive, determination and courage. Gabby made the right decision for her and her family, but this is just the beginning of the next chapter of her story."

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Giffords was a model of "grit and determination," and called her "a tremendous inspiration to all of us serving in Congress."

Democratic officials had held out hope for months that the congresswoman might recover sufficiently to run for re-election or even become a candidate to replace retiring Republican Sen. Jon Kyl.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman, Rep. Steve Israel, issued a statement saying that Giffords "will be deeply missed" in Congress.

"Today, Gabrielle is proving once again that she is a true public servant -- putting the needs of her constituents ahead of her own," said Israel (D-Dix Hills). "We look forward to working with a Democratic candidate who fits this district and shares those values that Gabrielle holds dear to carry on her work."

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California issued a statement saying that "since the tragic events one year ago, Gabby has been an inspiring symbol of determination and courage to millions of Americans."

Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford) called Giffords' move "a real loss to Congress." He added, "I'm certainly going to miss her in the Congress. On the other hand, she has to do whatever it takes to recover from absolutely devastating wounds. I understand why she's doing it. I'm sure it's best for her."

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) said she thought Giffords had assessed her recovery realistically, and she pointed out that it took two years for her own son, Kevin McCarthy, to recover enough to return to work after he was seriously wounded in a mass shooting on the Long Island Rail Road in 1993.

"She knows in herself she has a lot more work to do to be the person she wants to be," McCarthy said. "That probably should take priority over everything else." With AP

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.)

POSITION: U.S. representative since 2006

BIRTH DATE: June 8, 1970

HOMETOWN: Tucson, Ariz.

CAREER: Arizona state representative (2000-2002); Arizona state senator (2002-2005); Chief executive, El Campo Tires (1997-2000)

COLLEGE: Scripps College (Claremont, Calif.), BA, 1993; Cornell University, MS, 1996

SPOUSE: Astronaut and Navy Capt. Mark E. Kelly