‘Need to do some norm changing’: Debate reignites around health struggles of lawmakers in light of Granger's case
Kay Granger’s unexpected absence during the later stages of her public career highlights ongoing concerns about the transparency surrounding seriously ill and aging politicians.
TroibNews 
Congress has long been inhabited by aging politicians grappling with serious health issues. The situation surrounding retiring Rep. Kay Granger underscores that a new wave of Washington officials is starting to voice their frustration over the tradition of keeping lawmakers' health struggles hidden.
A report by a conservative activist on Friday regarding the 81-year-old Texas Republican — who led the powerful Appropriations Committee until last April — led her family to disclose that she has been battling dementia and is now living in an assisted-living facility, even as she remains in office. Granger has not cast a vote in Congress since July.
These revelations have ignited a bipartisan outcry and heightened scrutiny directed at other senior lawmakers. Some of the more pointed remarks have come from the right, with the news about Granger prompting Elon Musk to suggest cognitive testing for elected officials, while Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky expressed concern for "the congressmen who have dementia and are still voting."
“Congress should do its job, and if you can't do your job, maybe you shouldn't be there,” declared 44-year-old Rep. Tony Gonzales, a fellow Texas Republican, during an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation."
The Granger incident coincides with a year where the challenges pertaining to age have significantly influenced the departure of senior officials in Washington. Notably, President Joe Biden stepped back from the 2024 campaign, and House Democrats acted to push out older members clinging to key committee roles. The upcoming Congress is expected to include 10 senators and 24 House members over the average U.S. life expectancy of 77.5 years.
“We need to do some norm changing at a minimum,” stated Rep. Jared Huffman, 60, in a Monday interview. “It should really be unacceptable for members to be completely missing from communications with the public and with their own colleagues for months at a time.”
He continued, “Loyalty is a super important part of the work we do, but there is a point at which that becomes detrimental to the institution and to our democracy — and I think we do need to have a conversation about that.”
Another extreme case unfolded just last year when the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein was absent for a prolonged period before public pressure compelled her to return to the Senate, where her declining mental and physical health became increasingly evident. She passed away while still serving at the age of 90.
Prominent party leaders have also encountered health challenges; Mitch McConnell, 82, delivered his farewell speech as Senate Republican leader with a cast on his arm and a visible bandage on his face following a series of falls. He experienced two notable instances in the previous year where he paused for extended periods during speeches — something his office attributed to "lightheadedness." Shortly after, he announced his decision to step down from the Senate GOP leader role. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 84, recently underwent hip surgery after a fall while on official travel overseas.
There are hints of some movement toward addressing these issues. Earlier this month, House Democrats shocked many by beginning to confront their aging committee leadership. They removed ailing Rep. David Scott from his chairmanship of the Agriculture Committee after he had shown inconsistent attendance, and Reps. Jerry Nadler and Raúl Grijalva also stepped down from their leadership roles in the Judiciary and Natural Resources committees, allowing for younger successors to take charge.
The Senate has not similarly confronted these issues in the past. After grappling with Feinstein's issues that staff and lawmakers avoided discussing, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer eventually asked her privately to pass on the Judiciary Committee chair she once held, as her memory challenges worsened. Similarly, the late Sen. Thad Cochran needed aide assistance to navigate the Capitol and exhibited evident memory lapses while chairing the Appropriations Committee long before relinquishing his position due to health struggles.
However, the prevalence of older politicians tends to stifle any significant drive to change the current situation. Most lawmakers commenting on Granger’s case have voiced sadness or frustration without offering broader solutions.
“The public is entitled to far greater transparency about the health of the elected officials who represent them,” asserted Rep. Ritchie Torres, 36, regarding the Granger matter. “The incapacitation of an elected official is a material fact that should be disclosed to the public, rather than concealed by staff. Transparency, not cover-ups, should be the norm.”
As the next Congress approaches, these concerns are likely to take on greater importance. Republicans are expected to have a slight 53-47 edge in the Senate and an effective 217-215 majority in the House. A number of lawmakers frequently miss votes for various reasons; for instance, 29 House members did not participate in a recent vote on government funding.
Four House Democrats — the late Reps. Donald McEachin, Donald Payne Jr., Sheila Jackson Lee, and Bill Pascrell — along with Feinstein passed away during the current Congress.
The situation for Granger is a poignant conclusion to her distinguished career in Texas politics. In 1996, she made history as the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Texas after serving as mayor of Fort Worth. She ascended through the ranks and became the first GOP woman to chair the Appropriations Committee in 2023.
However, it was clear that she and her team recognized her health issues were becoming increasingly serious. She relinquished her chairmanship in April and announced her decision not to seek re-election. During a March address on a spending bill, she visibly struggled to deliver her remarks shortly before stepping down from her role.
Her son, Brandon, informed The Dallas Morning News about his mother experiencing "dementia issues" that have kept her from engaging with her duties in Washington and have necessitated her move to a senior living facility. The family's admission followed a report from The Dallas Express revealing she was in a memory care facility, which they initially denied.
Despite this, her staff did not maintain transparency regarding her condition, as they released images and made press announcements when she managed to attend a portrait unveiling in Washington, including quotes from prominent GOP figures like Speaker Mike Johnson and current Appropriations Chair Tom Cole. Meanwhile, her account on X, representing her, expressed gratitude toward several interns on December 20.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
A report by a conservative activist on Friday regarding the 81-year-old Texas Republican — who led the powerful Appropriations Committee until last April — led her family to disclose that she has been battling dementia and is now living in an assisted-living facility, even as she remains in office. Granger has not cast a vote in Congress since July.
These revelations have ignited a bipartisan outcry and heightened scrutiny directed at other senior lawmakers. Some of the more pointed remarks have come from the right, with the news about Granger prompting Elon Musk to suggest cognitive testing for elected officials, while Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky expressed concern for "the congressmen who have dementia and are still voting."
“Congress should do its job, and if you can't do your job, maybe you shouldn't be there,” declared 44-year-old Rep. Tony Gonzales, a fellow Texas Republican, during an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation."
The Granger incident coincides with a year where the challenges pertaining to age have significantly influenced the departure of senior officials in Washington. Notably, President Joe Biden stepped back from the 2024 campaign, and House Democrats acted to push out older members clinging to key committee roles. The upcoming Congress is expected to include 10 senators and 24 House members over the average U.S. life expectancy of 77.5 years.
“We need to do some norm changing at a minimum,” stated Rep. Jared Huffman, 60, in a Monday interview. “It should really be unacceptable for members to be completely missing from communications with the public and with their own colleagues for months at a time.”
He continued, “Loyalty is a super important part of the work we do, but there is a point at which that becomes detrimental to the institution and to our democracy — and I think we do need to have a conversation about that.”
Another extreme case unfolded just last year when the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein was absent for a prolonged period before public pressure compelled her to return to the Senate, where her declining mental and physical health became increasingly evident. She passed away while still serving at the age of 90.
Prominent party leaders have also encountered health challenges; Mitch McConnell, 82, delivered his farewell speech as Senate Republican leader with a cast on his arm and a visible bandage on his face following a series of falls. He experienced two notable instances in the previous year where he paused for extended periods during speeches — something his office attributed to "lightheadedness." Shortly after, he announced his decision to step down from the Senate GOP leader role. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 84, recently underwent hip surgery after a fall while on official travel overseas.
There are hints of some movement toward addressing these issues. Earlier this month, House Democrats shocked many by beginning to confront their aging committee leadership. They removed ailing Rep. David Scott from his chairmanship of the Agriculture Committee after he had shown inconsistent attendance, and Reps. Jerry Nadler and Raúl Grijalva also stepped down from their leadership roles in the Judiciary and Natural Resources committees, allowing for younger successors to take charge.
The Senate has not similarly confronted these issues in the past. After grappling with Feinstein's issues that staff and lawmakers avoided discussing, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer eventually asked her privately to pass on the Judiciary Committee chair she once held, as her memory challenges worsened. Similarly, the late Sen. Thad Cochran needed aide assistance to navigate the Capitol and exhibited evident memory lapses while chairing the Appropriations Committee long before relinquishing his position due to health struggles.
However, the prevalence of older politicians tends to stifle any significant drive to change the current situation. Most lawmakers commenting on Granger’s case have voiced sadness or frustration without offering broader solutions.
“The public is entitled to far greater transparency about the health of the elected officials who represent them,” asserted Rep. Ritchie Torres, 36, regarding the Granger matter. “The incapacitation of an elected official is a material fact that should be disclosed to the public, rather than concealed by staff. Transparency, not cover-ups, should be the norm.”
As the next Congress approaches, these concerns are likely to take on greater importance. Republicans are expected to have a slight 53-47 edge in the Senate and an effective 217-215 majority in the House. A number of lawmakers frequently miss votes for various reasons; for instance, 29 House members did not participate in a recent vote on government funding.
Four House Democrats — the late Reps. Donald McEachin, Donald Payne Jr., Sheila Jackson Lee, and Bill Pascrell — along with Feinstein passed away during the current Congress.
The situation for Granger is a poignant conclusion to her distinguished career in Texas politics. In 1996, she made history as the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Texas after serving as mayor of Fort Worth. She ascended through the ranks and became the first GOP woman to chair the Appropriations Committee in 2023.
However, it was clear that she and her team recognized her health issues were becoming increasingly serious. She relinquished her chairmanship in April and announced her decision not to seek re-election. During a March address on a spending bill, she visibly struggled to deliver her remarks shortly before stepping down from her role.
Her son, Brandon, informed The Dallas Morning News about his mother experiencing "dementia issues" that have kept her from engaging with her duties in Washington and have necessitated her move to a senior living facility. The family's admission followed a report from The Dallas Express revealing she was in a memory care facility, which they initially denied.
Despite this, her staff did not maintain transparency regarding her condition, as they released images and made press announcements when she managed to attend a portrait unveiling in Washington, including quotes from prominent GOP figures like Speaker Mike Johnson and current Appropriations Chair Tom Cole. Meanwhile, her account on X, representing her, expressed gratitude toward several interns on December 20.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
