Gabrielle Giffords Votes as House Passes Debt Ceiling Deal

Debt ceiling ball is now in the court of the United States Senate as the House voted 269-161 today to pass the deal agreed by President Obama and congressional leaders yesterday.

While still widespread dissatisfaction with the drama created the Republican refusal to raise the ceiling of debt repayment without similar concessions, and resentment on both sides of the deal, was a very positive emotional event in the midst of all this.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona returned home floor to vote on the bill. It was her first appearance there since she was injured in a head to meet and greet with voters in the city of Tucson in January. She accompanied her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, a close friend of Debbie Wasserman Schultz, The Republic.

Giffords was greeted at the door of the Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and received lengthy applause from colleagues at home. Vice President Joe Biden also stopped by to see her.

When Biden was asked about what he was talking about with Giffords, he joked: "It is now a member of the club crack head like me."

In a statement, Giffords explained why she felt compelled to vote today.

"I have closely followed the debate over our debt ceiling and was deeply disappointed by what is happening in Washington," Giffords said in a statement. "After several weeks of unsuccessful debate in Washington, I was glad to see a solution to this crisis out. I firmly believe that crossing the aisle for the benefit of the American people is more important than political parties. I was supposed to be here for this vote. I could not risk that my absence would collapse our economy. "