Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ) returned to the House floor on Tuesday to explain his several-month absence from Congress [1, 2].
The congressman's return addresses a period of prolonged silence and missed legislative duties that had raised questions about his health and whereabouts.
Speaking on the House floor in the U.S. Capitol, Kean said his absence was the result of a medical crisis. He said that he entered the hospital for testing several months ago and did not expect a long-term stay [1]. During that time, he was given a diagnosis of depression [1, 2].
"I was diagnosed with depression and spent an extended period in the hospital receiving treatment," Kean said [3].
Records indicate the 57-year-old lawmaker missed more than 100 votes during his time away [1]. Reports on the exact duration of his absence vary; some sources state he was gone for three months [4], while others describe the period as four months or nearly four months [1, 3].
Kean said he initially entered the hospital for testing due to health concerns [1]. He said that the subsequent diagnosis of depression required the extended hospitalization that kept him from his duties in Washington.
The congressman's public disclosure follows a period of unexplained absence that left his seat vacant during critical House proceedings. By addressing the House floor directly, Kean provided a formal explanation for the gap in his attendance record.
“"I was given the diagnosis of depression,"”
The public disclosure of a mental health crisis by a sitting member of Congress highlights the intersection of personal health and public service. By attributing his absence to a clinical diagnosis and hospitalization, Kean provides a medical justification for missing over 100 votes, which typically triggers scrutiny regarding a representative's ability to serve their constituency.
