McConnell returns to Senate after head injury: ‘Being hardheaded has served me very well’
Samantha-Jo Roth
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) returned to the Senate on Monday for the first time since March after suffering a concussion and a rib fracture from a fall in a Washington hotel.
“I want to thank all my colleagues for their warm wishes shared over the past few weeks,” McConnell said during a speech on the floor of the Senate. “Suffice to say this isn’t the first time being hardheaded served me very well,” he said with a laugh.
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McConnell, 81, was released from the hospital on March 13 and spent time in an inpatient rehabilitation facility. The longtime Kentucky senator was released from rehab on March 25 and recovered for a couple of weeks at home.
“We’re truly lucky and blessed to get to serve in this remarkable institution and represent our home state and serve our country,” McConnell said. “Needless to say, I’m very happy to be back and there’s important business for Congress to tackle.”
McConnell’s return comes as Congress works to find a way forward to raise the nation’s borrowing limit and negotiate additional aid for the war in Ukraine, among other important priorities.
On Monday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) outlined a proposal to lift the nation’s credit limit for one year in exchange for significant spending cuts and policy changes to federal assistance programs during a speech at the New York Stock Exchange. McConnell took a moment to express his support for McCarthy’s perspective.
“President Biden does not get to stick his fingers in his ears and refuse to listen, talk, or negotiate,” McConnell said. “The White House needs to stop wasting time and start negotiating with the speaker of the House.”
The Republican Senate leader’s return comes as Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) also arrived back in the nation’s capital on Monday after receiving treatment for his clinical depression at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for the last month. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has also been absent after being diagnosed with shingles.
In his speech on the floor, McConnell did not mention a request from Democrats to temporarily replace Feinstein on the Senate Judiciary Committee as she continues to recover from shingles. Her six-week absence on the panel has stalled the confirmation of some of President Joe Biden’s nominees.
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Democrats are unable to swap out her seat without help from Republicans. Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) have already said they don’t believe that Republicans should help Democrats replace Feinstein.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said on Monday that he plans to speak with McConnell about the situation in the coming days.