Giffords' Staff Gets Questions In At Armed Services Hearing

Although Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) is not well enough following last months shooting to attend hearings, her staff was able to present the Pentagon’s top brass with questions Wednesday on the incapacitated Congresswoman’s behalf.

The questions pertained to how the Defense Department was implementing energy measures championed by Giffords and were submitted to Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), who posed them during Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Admiral Michael Mullen’s appearance before the House Armed Services Committee.

Giffords introduced the Department of Defense Energy Security Act of 2010 last year. One of the measures included increasing dependence on solar power among members of the Marines Corps serving in Afghanistan. Mullen said Wednesday that the measure had been successfully implemented and had spread from the Marines to other services.

A gunman shot Giffords outside of a Tucson-based supermarket while the Congresswoman visited with constituents early last month. Although severely incapacitated, she has maintained her seat as she recovers.