An 81-year-old GOP Congresswoman from Texas, who hasn’t voted on the House floor since July and was recently found to be living in a senior care facility is expected to continue drawing a salary into the new year.
Representing Texas’ 12th Congressional District, Kay Granger’s extended absence had reportedly prompted concern among her constituency, Newsweek reported.
The outlet said it was reporters from The Dallas Express who eventually located the 81-year-old in a memory care facility in Fort Worth. The Congresswoman’s son, however, who told the Dallas Morning News his mother has been experiencing “dementia issues,” clarified that she is not in memory care, but in an independent living facility.
The discovery of Granger’s living situation comes on the heels of other high-profile politicians suffering age-related issues while on the job.
For years, conversations about the health of Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, the oldest sitting member of Congress who suffered several serious illnesses, were commonplace until her death at the age of 90.
Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, now 82, has suffered injuries from several falls and last year had two very public spells where he froze in front of reporters before being whisked away by staff. Early this month, he fell yet again and sustained cuts to the face and a sprained wrist.
Just days after McConnell’s fall, 84-year-old Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi fell on a set of stairs during an overseas trip and had to have hip replacement surgery.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is currently the oldest sitting member of Congress at the age of 91.
As for the Texas GOP Congresswoman, CNN reported that she made an appearance in Washington D.C in November to take part in her portrait unveiling in honor of her time on Appropriations Committee.
In a statement to CNN, Granger admitted having some health issues that progressed in recent months.
“I have been navigating some unforeseen health challenges over the past year,” the statement said in part. “However, since early September, my health challenges have progressed making frequent travel to Washington both difficult and unpredictable.”
Why the 81-year-old, who announced in Nov. 2023 that she would not be running for re-election, did not alert her constituents about her absence is unknown.
The Congresswoman and her staff will continue to remain on the taxpayers’ payroll until Jan. 3, 2025.
