Republican and Democratic leaders on the Senate environment committee joined together to thank the Capitol Police for preventing a horrific shooting that targeted lawmakers from becoming even worse Wednesday morning.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said initial reports suggested that the "the skill" of the Capitol Police prevented the incident from becoming much worse. He said lawmakers should "not take for granted" the Capitol Police, who protect Congress.

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise and an aide for Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, were shot at Republicans' softball practice in the Washington suburb of Alexandria, Va., just a few miles from Capitol Hill. Capitol Police at the scene stopped the shooter before he could shoot more members of Congress. Scalise, of Louisiana, was shot in the hip and is in stable condition, according to his office. Two Capitol Police officers also were injured.

Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware, the top Democrat on the committee, seconded Barrasso's support for the Capitol Police, telling attendees at Wednesday's ethanol hearing to thank the officers, and that they couldn't be thanked enough.

"Say thank you," Carper said.

Barrasso kept his committee's schedule to discuss a bill to allow more ethanol to be blended into the gasoline supply year round. Environmental rules prevent 15-percent ethanol blends from being blended during the summer based on the fuel's Reid Vapor Pressure, a measure of fuel volatility.