Gabrielle Giffords

Following an inspiring return to Congress in August - one that took place just months after she was shot in the head during a campaign event in Arizona - Rep. Gabrielle Giffords announced today that she is resigning from her position.

"A lot has happened over the past year. We cannot change that," Giffords said in a video on her website. "I don't remember much from that horrible day, but I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice."

"Thank you for your prayers and for giving me time to recover. I have more work to do on my recovery. So to do what is best for Arizona, I will step down this week."

Giffords is expected to attend the State of the Union Address Tuesday and then submit a letter of resignation to House Speaker John Boehner and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer.

The state will hold a special election to fill the Democrat's seat later this year.

In a new interview, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords documents her story of untold strength and resilience after surviving an assassination attempt back in January.

Giffords was shot in the head at an event in her native Arizona and nearly died.

In addition to her recovery, Giffords and her husband, astronaut Mark Kelly, opened up about her new book Gabby: A Story of Hope and Courage, to ABC.

If you don’t mind getting teary-eyed at your desk at work, watch the preview below, which features footage of Giffords’ inspirational and painful road back.

Watch these clips of the Congresswoman, her spouse and Diane Sawyer:

Gabrielle Giffords Interview With Diane Sawyer

It's the one thing on which voters and politicians from both sides of the aisle can agree: few events this year were more moving than the return of Gabrielle Giffords to Congress last week.

Now, the owners of the Arizona grocery store in front of which Giffords and voters gathered prior to the tragic shooting that left multiple people dead and the Congresswoman hospitalized say they plan on honoring the victims with a monument.

Sources tell TMZ the folks behind the Safeway in Casas Adobes hope to plant a trio of flagpoles at the spot of the January 8 shooting: one displaying the U.S. flag, one adorned with the congressional seal and the third being the state flag of Arizona.

There will also likely be a plaque hung in testament to the spirit Giffords has shown in returning to work.

Amidst a contentious debate over the debt ceiling, with America losing more and more faith in both political parties, Gabrielle Giffords gave us a reason to be hopeful this evening:

Just six months after being shot in the head, the Arizona Congresswoman made a surprise return to Congress and received a standing ovation prior to voting in favor of the resolution. It passed by a count of 269-161.

Gabrielle Giffords Casts Debt Ceiling Vote

The debt bill is virtually guaranteed to be passed in the Senate tomorrow, as the government waited until the last possible moment to avoid a crippling default.

The measure aims to not raise any taxes, while cutting federal spending by at least $2.1 trillion over the next 10 years. It has critics on both sides, although John Boehner is not among them: "The legislation will solve this debt crisis and help get the American people back to work," the House Speaker said at a press conference.

Nancy Pelosi was less enthusiastic: "I'm not happy with it, but I'm proud of some of the accomplishments in it. That's why I'm voting for it."

All involved, however, welcomed Giffords with open, warm arms.

The path of Gabrielle Giffords has taken her from Congresswoman... to inspiring gun shot victim... to author.

The politician, who was released from the hospital last week, will team with husband Mark Kelly to pen a memoir that chronicles their lives since Giffords was shot in the head by a mad men in January.

Kelly, who is retiring from the U.S. Navy and NASA, told The Associated Press of the book: "We decided it was the right thing to do to put our words and our voices on paper and tell our story from our point of view... Gabby and I are forever grateful for the heartfelt support we've received over these many months."

No release date has been scheduled for the memoir, which will be published by Scribner.

Gabrielle Giffords has taken a major step on her path to a full recovery.

The Arizona Congresswoman, who was shot in the head by a crazed gunman in January, was released from a hospital in Houston yesterday. She will soon begin outpatient care.

"We are very excited that she has reached the next phase of her rehabilitation," said Dr. Gerard Francisco, the hospital's chief medical officer, who will continue to supervise Giffords.

The first photos of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, taken about five months after she was tragically shot in the head, have emerged on Facebook.

The images depict a a woman in recovery, smiling and with short, dark hair. They were taken by a professional photographer on May 17 at TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital, a day before Giffords under a cranioplasty.

The picture above was not altered or edited, according to her staff, who said it shows "Gabby has traveled a remarkable distance since Jan. 8."

“This was Mark and Gabby’s decision,” said spokesman CJ Karamargin of the pictures' release. “There is intense interest in the Congresswoman’s appearance and on the threshold of her going to outpatient treatment, we thought this was a good way to satisfy public curiosity.”

Giffords is expected to leave the hospital this month.

The man accused of opening fire on her and her constituents in Arizona has been deemed mentally incompetent.

We have an update on wounded Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and it's nothing but good news:

The Arizona politician, who was one of several victims of a January shooting spree, is recovering at TIRR Memorial Hermann rehabilitation hospital in Houston and has recently regained the ability to speak.

"It's very good news," spokesman C.J. Karamargin tells CNN, adding that Giffords asked for a piece of toast this week.

Why that facility?

"The reason for choosing this rehab facility is because of their track record," Karamargin said. "They are doing a fabulous job and working with her language and speech exercise and the physical therapy part of it."

For the second time since he allegedly shot 19 people, killing six, Jared Lee Loughner appeared inside a courtroom today. He pleaded not guilty to charges that he tried to kill Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and two of her aides.

At the moment, the 22-year old faces federal charges of trying to assassinate Giffords and this pair of government officials. He will later face state charges that center on the other victims.

Loughner entered a Phoenix courthouse wearing an orange jumpsuit and glasses. His hair has grown out slightly since his sinister mug shot was snapped two weeks ago.

During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Larry Burns asked Loughner's attorney, Judy Clarke - who has represented such clients as Ted Kaczynski and Olympic bomber Eric Rudolphwhether - if there was any question about her client's ability to understand the case against him.

"We are not raising any issues at this time," Clarke said.

The status of Gabrielle Giffords continues to improve.

In the latest encouraging news about the Arizona Congresswoman, doctors plan on moving her to a rehab center in Houston in the very near future. This follows yesterday's significant step, as doctors took Giffords outside for the first time since the January 8 shooting.

"I saw the biggest smile she could gather," trauma surgeon Peter Rhee said of the politician's reaction to the hospital's roof deck. "We are very happy to have her enjoying the sunshine of Arizona."

Among recent improvements made by Giffords:

• She successfully used an iPad.
• She picked out different colored objects.
• She moved her lips, although it's still unclear whether or not she can form words.

Mark Kelly, Gabrielle's astronaut of a husband, thinks his wife is familiar with her surroundings. At yesterday's briefing, he said: "I can just look in her eyes and tell. She is very aware of the situation."