Iowa Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat from Waterloo, says the legislative calendar remains uncertain as members of congress are still hurting following the shooting of Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords Saturday. Braley is a friend of Giffords and talked with reporters today right after a prayer service for Giffords.

Braley says the prayer service was a bipartisian event that was “very emotional and inspirational.” Braley says representatives have been sharing friendships and offering support to one another in the wake of the tragedy. He hopes the civility and concern for each other continues as they move ahead with their jobs.

“I’m hoping that this unspeakable tragedy will remind us all of what we share as Americans, and how we all have a shared responsibility to each other,” Braley says, “to have a conversation that respects each other’s opinions, while at the same time standing up for the beliefs that we hold.”

Braley says he’s been asked several times if he thinks the tragedy will still have an impact that will continue to in the way members of congress do business six months from now. Braley says he is optimistic and says he knows that people who regularly follow congress “could appropriately be cynical that we will be in a position to do that in six months.” But he says he will try to do his best to live up to that standard.

Congresswoman Giffords’ brother is a former kicker for the Iowa State Cyclones football and Braley says that is one of the links that made them good friends, as he is a graduate of I.S.U. Giffords was severely wounded in the shooting, but has been showing signs up improvement. Six peopled died in the shooting.