Senator McConnell to miss Senate votes this week

Senator Mitch McConnell will not vote in the Senate this week as he continues to recover from a recent hospitalization, his office announced on Monday, June 22. The 84-year-old Kentucky Republican was admitted to a hospital on June 14, though the specific reason for his admission has not been disclosed.

A statement from his spokesperson said McConnell is still working closely with staff on Senate business and Kentucky matters but will not be present for votes. The announcement means planned Senate Appropriations Committee markups scheduled for later this week have been canceled. The Senate is set to begin a two-week recess after this week's session.

This is the second time McConnell has been hospitalized this year. In February, he was hospitalized for what his staff described as flu-like symptoms. The senator has faced several public health challenges in recent years, including a concussion from a fall in 2023 and occasional freezing episodes during public events. McConnell survived polio as a child and has said he deals with its lingering effects.

Despite his absence, McConnell remains engaged with his office. Fellow Kentucky Senator Rand Paul told reporters last week that...