Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) confirmed Thursday evening that she is recovering from eye surgery after a weekslong absence from Capitol Hill.
“Following left eye surgery, my priority has been ensuring a full and responsible recovery,” Wilson said. “Although I am currently unable to fly under my doctors’ orders, my work has not stopped for a single day. While recovering in the district, I have continued carrying out my official duties, meeting with leaders, local organizations, city and county officials, and constituents.”
Wilson, 83, has not cast a vote since April 17. The Florida Democrat, who has been in office since 2013, has missed 49 roll call votes.
However, in her statement, Wilson defended her absence from the House, saying that whether she is in Washington or her district, the “work never stops for me.”
“Serving the people of Florida’s 24th Congressional District has been the work of my entire adult life,” her statement said. “This is my footprint, and this is what I do, and my constituents know my commitment to them is unwavering.
Scrutiny over Wilson’s missed House votes ramped up on Thursday. Wilson’s statement did not say when the congresswoman planned to return to Washington.
Reps. Lois Frankel (D-FL) and Maxwell Frost (D-FL) told the Washington Examiner prior to Wilson’s statement being released that they were not aware she was missing votes. A staff member for Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) confirmed that he has not spoken to the congresswoman.
“I didn’t even know. Is she OK?” Frankel said during a brief interview. “I’m gonna find out. I didn’t know anything about it. I didn’t know she wasn’t there.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) told reporters on Thursday that Wilson is “recovering from a procedure,” and that he expected her to be back shortly.
Wilson’s absence from Capitol Hill comes after Florida’s legislature passed a gerrymandered congressional map that could deliver Republicans four more House seats. The new map is expected to give Republicans a 24-4 advantage over Florida Democrats heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
Wilson’s seat, in Florida’s 24th Congressional District, is considered solid Democrat under the new map.
When asked if members should be transparent about their health, Frost told the Washington Examiner, “Generally, yeah, but I mean people get procedures done all the time.”
THE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE SCRAMBLING AFTER FLORIDA PASSED DESANTIS’S MAP GERRYMANDER
He continued, “But yeah, members should be transparent about their health.”
“People have to be given time. If they have a health issue, they have to be given time to take care of it,” Frankel said. “That’s how I feel.”
Lauren Green contributed to this report.