On Capitol Hill, Republican Representative Steve Scalise returned to Congress Thursday for the first time since he was nearly killed by a gunman last June, walking gingerly on crutches as he returned to the floor of the House of Representatives to thunderous applause. Scalise is House majority whip, a climate change denier and a staunch opponent of gun control laws. His return to Capitol Hill fueled speculation that he could eventually replace Paul Ryan as the next speaker of the House.