
The region's lawmakers are keeping Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in their thoughts and prayers after she was shot today in her Arizona district.
Giffords first came to Congress in the anti-Republican sweep of 2006 and became a part of the largest female class in Congress history. She quickly gained respect from both parties with her work on the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees where she worked to increase border security in her Tucson district that borders Mexico.
Giffords also pushed technological development of renewable energy sources, especially solar. The former small business woman and state senator is the only member of Congress married to an active duty military officer. Her husband Mark Kelly is an astronaut who is slated to join his twin brother at the International Space Station. Her family and staff says she's in surgery but no further details are currently available on her condition.

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