Scalise was released from the hospital. [ applause ] steve, i know youre watching so let me say we are inspired and relieved by your recovery and honored to be joined by your remarkable and courageous wife, jennifer. [ applause ] jennifer i know i speak for the president when i say you and the kids will remain in our prayers until steve returns to work. Trauma jury john and Robert Golden of med star Washington Hospital saved lives and we are honored by your presence today. [ applause ] finally here on person heros week we honor five truly remarkable americans who rushed into harms way and prevented on even Greater National tragedy. Join me in welcoming five american heros here to the east room of the white house, officer kevin jobe of the Alexandria Police. [ applause ] officer Alexander Jensen of the Alexandria Police. [ applause ] officer nicole vataglia of the Alexandria Police. [ applause ] officer david bailey of the United StatesCapitol Police. [ applause ] and officer crystal griener of the United StatesCapitol Police. [ applause ] as you will hear more in a moment these officers exemplify the best Law Enforcement in the country and they honor us by their presence today. Will you join me in showing one more round of applause to five remarkable americans and all of the men and women in Law Enforcement they represent here in the white house today. [ cheers and applause ] ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States. [ applause ] please sit down, thank you. Thank you to Vice President for doing a fantastic job and for the introduction. We welcome you all, members of congress and distinguished gu t gues guests. We are gathered here today far very very special occasion as we pay tribute to those whose courageous aks saved so many lives juks six weeks ago. On the morning of june 14th several members of congress began their day on the baseball diamond practicing for one of this towns greatest traditions, congressional baseball game. It was just another beautiful morning until the unthinkable happened. The familiar sounds of baseball were suddenly interrupted by loud vicious gunfire. Matt micah, Zachary Barth and beloved congressman and my friend Steve Scalise were each shot during an attack. Others were injured trying to evade the incoming bullets of which there were many. Fortunately from the moment the gunman began to shoot he was met by returned fire. Capitol police, special agents david bailey and crystal griner raced through the bullets and thats exactly what they did. They raced through the bullets. They immediately engaged the gunman. Minutes later members of the Alexandria Police department arrived on the scene. Officers any goal bataglia, and al alex jensen joined the fight. I visited her in the hospital. She was hurt very badly. And shrapnel injured special agent bailey as bulleted swirled all around him. Both officers continued to face down the gunman until they brought hichl down. He had rifles. They had handguns. Thats the big difference. These officers saved the lives of every innocent person on the field that day. Many of them friends of mike and myself. They are american heros. We salute them. [ applause ] we also salute the members of congress who acted with such bravely in the face of danger, shielding each other and caring for the injured. We honor today the emergency dispatchers who directed First Responders to the scene within seconds. They really acted quickly. I especially want to recognize all of the personnel from the Alexandria Fire Department we for providing support. Thank you for what you did that day and for what you do every single day. Thank you very much. [ applause ] we also expressed our deep appreciation for the paramedics, doctors, nurses and surgeons from med star Washington Hospital and George WashingtonUniversity Hospital for saving the lives of the wounded. Joining us today is congressman scalises medical team. Where is jack . Stand up, jack, come on. [ applause ] dr. Robert golden, the director of orthopedic trauma. Congratulations. They war lot more worried that night at the hospital werent they . Great job. You the gratitude of the entire nation. Thank you for caring for victims and for your dear friend steve. Steve is a fighter. We are known that far long time. This week he was discharged from the hospital and is now beginning weeks of intensive rehabilitation at an inpatient facility. He will recover. We are praying for him. We are pulling for him and we are sending his family our support and our love. Steves great wife, who i have gotten to know, jennifer is here with us today and we applaud the strength and courage that she has shown throughout this incredible ordeal. Thank you, jennifer. Thank you, generjennifer. Others responded in ways that reminded us how much stronger we are when we are united. When the congressional baseball game was played just one day later nearly 25,000 people turned out. They raised more than 1. 5 million for charity also by far a record. The sit vecitizens of the blood in his name and Vice President pence donated his blood at the congressional blood drive. Thank you, mike. [ applause ] just recently House Republicans and democrats introduced a bill to provide support to Capitol Police officers who are injured on duty. People have been looking at this for a long time but jennifer, you can tell steve that he pulled it off. Okay . Its better than being a whip. [ laughter ] i hope it gets to my desk. I will sign it immediately, okay . [ applause ] the assault on june 14 reminded us that evil exists in the world but it also reminded us that hero walk in our midst, that love triumphs over tragedy, and that our resolve is stronger than ever. We praise americas Law Enforcement and ive been praising them for a long time. They are unbelievable people. For being tough, for doing the tough jobs, the dangerous jobs, and sometimes thankless jobs with tremendous integrity, devotion, and courage. I just want to thank Law Enforcement generally. Thank you. [ applause ] thank you so much. Thank you. [ applause ] i can only tell you from the campaign, the people love you, they respect you, and they admire you, so i know you go through a lot but they have great admiration, so just remember that, please. Today im deeply honored to present our nations highest award for a Public Safety officer, the medal of valor to special agent crystal griner, special agent david bailey, and Alexandria PoliceDepartment Officers nicole battaglia, kevin joep and alex jensen. The medal of valor is reserved for those who go above and beyond the call of duty as each of these men and women did that on that fateful day and they did it with great courage and they did it with instinct. When our human instincts tell us to run, theres danger, our police and First Responders run straight at it standing in the breach protecting the innocent and keeping our loved ones safe. Now i would like the military aide to read the citation as these Great American heroes step forward to receive the medal of valo valor. Special agent crystal griner, medal of valor presented to special agent crystal griner, u. S. Capitol police, district of columbia. For bravery and composure while engaged in an active shooter incident, despite being shot, special agent griner placed herself in mortal danger to save the lives of members of congress, attending family members and Congressional Staff during a Charity Softball practice at Eugene SimpsonMemorial Park in alexandria, virginia. [ applause ] special agent david bailey. Medal of valor, presented to special agent david bailey, u. S. Capitol police, district of columbia. For taking brave and Decisive Action to subdue an active shooter. Special agent bailey was shot during the exchange of gunfire but continued to advance the shooter without benefit of cover until the active shooter was subdued, saving the lives of members of congress, attending family members, and Congressional Staff. [ applause ] officer nicole battaglia. Medal of valor presented to officer nicole battaglia. Alexandria police department, virginia. For demonstrating extraordinary courage in saving the lives of two u. S. Capitol police officers. Members of congress, their families, and Congressional Staff. Officer battaglia engaged the assailant, exchanging gunfire at close range and ultimately neutralizing him. [ applause ]. Officer Alexander Jensen. Medal of valor presented to officer alex jensen, Alexandria Police department, virginia. For swift and valiant action in responding to an active shooter, officer jensen put himself in harms way during the active shooter incident, moving without cover and drawing fire from the assailant until the assailant was subdued and the safety of the members of congress, their families, and Congressional Staff was ensured. [ applause ] officer kevin joep. Medal of valor presented to officer kevin job, Alexandria Police department, virginia. For policing himself in grave danger to protect two u. S. Capitol police officers, members of congress, their families and Congressional Staff. Officer job engage an active shooter, knew twralizing a volatile gunman and presenting further injuries to innocent bystanders in the park. [ applause ] very brave people, great people, congratulations to all of you. We are forever in your debt. Thank you, god bless you, god bless our truly amazing Law Enforcement, and god bless america. Thank you very much. [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, please remain in your seats until the president has departed the east room. Announcer former director of the office of government ethics, walter shaub, is getting ready to speak at the National Press club. Mr. Shaub resigned from his position earlier this month after he wanted the white house to make public all ethics waivers granted to president ial appointees. Now mr. Shaub works a few blocks away from the white house at the Campaign Legal center, a nonprofit government watchdog group. Good morning, i want to thank you everyone for coming out today and also i want to thank those joining us this morning via cspan. My name is jamie horowitz, im on the Headliners Committee here at the National Press club. On behalf of our president jeff baloo and our 3,000 members, i want to were honored today to have mr. Walter shaub jr. With us. I want to say that yesterday as i was driving our perhaps more