Senator Mitch McConnell, an 84-year-old Republican from Kentucky, has been absent from the U.S. Senate since mid-June due to undisclosed health problems. McConnell, who chairs the Senate Rules Committee and a defense appropriations panel, was taken to a hospital in the Washington area for reasons his office has kept private.
Impact on Senate Proceedings
McConnell’s absence is likely to be felt most keenly on the Senate Appropriations Committee, where partisan disputes have stalled efforts to reach agreement on annual funding for the Pentagon and other federal agencies. Current funding is set to expire when fiscal year 2027 begins on October 1, and party leaders have begun to signal the need for a stopgap measure known as a continuing resolution to keep federal agencies afloat.
McConnell’s office has stated that he appreciates the outpouring of support he’s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital. The senator continues to improve and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
