Sen. Mitch McConnell returned to the U.S. Capitol on Monday for the first time in three months. The ailing lawmaker cast a key judicial vote after an extended absence following a fall and hospitalization.
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The 84-year-old Kentucky Republican arrived in a wheelchair and briefly addressed reporters before heading to the Senate floor.
“I must admit, after two decades dodging your questions, I wasn’t sure how many of you would be here today,” McConnell joked. “But I’m glad to see you. It’s time to get back to work.”
McConnell later voted to advance the nomination of Matthew R. Byrne to serve as a federal district judge in Ohio. His vote proved decisive in moving the nomination forward.
His return could also help break a partisan deadlock on the Senate Agriculture Committee, where McConnell serves as a member. His absence left the panel divided 11-11 and complicated efforts to advance a new farm bill.
McConnell said he intends to work on the farm bill while continuing to advocate for NATO and support for Ukraine.
“Today, I’ll cast my first Senate vote since I took a bad fall back in June,” McConnell said in a statement. He described his recovery as “a long and often frustrating process,” complicated by the lingering effects of childhood polio.
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McConnell acknowledged he has not fully recovered but said he intends to participate in important votes while continuing physical therapy.
“I’m still not quite back to 100%,” he said, adding that he had assured Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., that he would “do my best to be present for tough votes when our Conference needs me.”
McConnell was hospitalized June 14 after falling at his Washington home. He later said he briefly lost consciousness and was treated for mild pneumonia. He subsequently entered a rehabilitation facility before being discharged Aug. 6 to continue recovering at home.
The lengthy absence and limited public information about his condition prompted questions about his health and ability to serve.
McConnell, who has represented Kentucky in the Senate since 1985 and is the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, is not seeking another term. He plans to retire when his current term ends in January.
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