Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), submitted her letter of resignation to Speaker Boehner on the dais. Members paid tribute to her service and career, and Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) read Gifford's resignation letter.

On January 8, 2011, Representative Giffords was shot in the head in a Tucson supermarket parking lot at a public meeting with constituents.