Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) said that a diagnosis of depression and subsequent hospitalization caused a four-month absence from Congress [1].
The disclosure provides a medical explanation for the lawmaker's prolonged disappearance from Capitol Hill, where his absence resulted in a significant number of missed legislative duties.
Kean returned to Washington, D.C., in early July 2024 [2]. According to records, the representative had not cast a vote since March 5, 2024 [1]. During this period, he missed more than 140 roll-call votes [1].
The lawmaker said that the time away was necessary to undergo treatment for depression [2]. This medical crisis prevented his attendance on the House floor throughout the spring and early summer of 2024 [2].
While the representative has now returned to his duties, the gap in his attendance highlighted the impact of severe mental health challenges on the functioning of federal representatives. The absence spanned four months [1].
“Rep. Tom Kean Jr. said that a diagnosis of depression and subsequent hospitalization caused a four-month absence from Congress.”
The public disclosure by a sitting member of Congress regarding hospitalization for depression reflects a growing trend of political figures addressing mental health. By linking a significant legislative absence—specifically the loss of over 140 votes—to a clinical diagnosis, the case underscores the tension between the rigorous demands of federal office and the necessity of medical leave for mental health recovery.
