THE APEX TIMES
A Republican congressman said he will end a months-long absence from Washington, D.C., following an undisclosed health issue that kept him away from the House floor for 135 roll call votes.
Rep. Tom Kean Jr., a Republican from New Jersey, plans to return to Capitol Hill on June 30 after a months-long absence from Washington, D.C., his spokesperson confirmed, following Kean’s missed floor schedule that totaled 135 roll call votes, according to the report.
The spokesperson did not publicly specify the nature of Kean’s health issue. Fox News reported that the delay was connected to the undisclosed medical matter and that Kean’s return date had been set for the last week of June.
Kean’s absence has meant he did not participate in House roll call votes during the period described as more than 100 days away from Washington. Roll call votes are a central part of House procedure, and members’ presence affects whether they can cast votes on legislation, amendments, and procedural measures brought to the floor.
The House schedules votes through the legislative calendar, and members are generally expected to appear in Washington to vote. When a member is absent, the House can still conduct business because quorums and voting rules are designed to allow action by present members, but individual members do not have the opportunity to vote on matters that arise while they are away.
In addition to floor voting, time away from Washington can affect a member’s participation in committee work and other congressional duties that depend on in-person attendance in Washington. Kean’s spokesperson did not describe any adjustments to committee assignments or how Kean’s responsibilities would be handled while he was out, beyond the confirmation of the return date.
Kean’s planned return on June 30 is expected to restore his ability to vote on future House roll call matters after the extended period of nonattendance described in the report. The congressman will also be able to participate in floor debate and procedural votes that take place after he returns, assuming he is present for the chamber’s voting schedule.
The report did not provide further detail on what specific votes were affected, what legislation the member missed, or whether Kean plans any additional changes to his schedule on returning. It also did not indicate whether the health issue would continue to limit attendance beyond the June 30 date.