WASHINGTON, D.C.—House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) joined Fox News Channel’s America’s Newsroom with Sandra Smith to discuss his recovery from last year’s shooting at a Congressional Baseball Game practice and the team’s first practice since that fateful day. Whip Scalise also expressed support for Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo and his disappointment with the Democrats’ partisan attacks against former VA Secretary nominee Admiral Ronny Jackson.

 

Click here or on the image above to watch the interview.

 

On his recovery from last year’s shooting and this year’s first GOP baseball practice:

“[It was] the final surgery that was planned as part of my recovery and it felt really good to get it done. it was successful. My doctors felt really good about it and I feel really good about it. Now, I can focus back just on recovering, my physical therapy that I do three days a week to learn how to run and walk again.”

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“I was flying back from New Orleans yesterday and, you know, I knew my colleagues were going to be out there on the ball field. I really missed being out there with them. I sent a statement just to encourage them. I thought it was great that they went back to show people that we aren’t going to let one act of madness stop what is an incredible tradition and something that we need to keep going. I’ll be back out there soon enough and I’m glad they went and that they aren’t going to be deterred, either.”

 

On President Trump’s former VA Secretary nominee:

“I think you saw President Trump yesterday just expressing how toxic this political environment has gotten where somebody as qualified as him would be tarred like this. They try to go after him and create allegations, frankly, that he will not get the opportunity to go and counter. But it is interesting that Democrats never raised these concerns or allegations when he was Barack Obama’s physician. It just shows you there is a double standard out there. President Trump is not going to be deterred. He has done so much for our veterans already and he will make sure we get a good, qualified VA Secretary. More light needs to be shined on the people that will oppose and try to undermine whoever is going to be the person that takes care of our veterans. I’m glad we have a president, Donald Trump, who has made taking care of our veterans a top priority. We need a qualified VA secretary. When he appoints somebody, I have no doubt, it will be someone who will be able to lead that agency the right way for our military veterans. At that point, Democrats need to put their partisanship on the side and ultimately stand up for our veterans.”

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“I would imagine [President Trump] is going to have a good list of people that want to do this job. This is somebody who is going to be the primary caretaker for our veterans when they come home and ultimately need to be taken care of from their injuries that were related to defending our freedom. This is something that Congress has made a top priority. We’ve increased funding for the VA even as we’ve cut other areas. We’ve made sure our veterans have the money and resources they need. They need somebody at the top. It is time for the Senate, especially the Democrats who try to make this a blood sport, to come behind him.”

 

On Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo:

“It ought to be a unanimous vote. I served with Mike Pompeo on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He did a great job as CIA director and he is going to do a great job as our Secretary of State. He already has great relationships with a lot of the leaders around the world who are our allies and he understands our enemies. He understands them probably better than most Secretaries of State coming in. Hopefully the Senate has a strong vote. I commend President Trump for appointing Mike Pompeo to be Secretary of State. I think he is going to do a great job representing our country.”