- New Jersey Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. returned to Congress on Tuesday after a nearly four-month absence.
- Kean attributed his prolonged disappearance from public view to treatment for depression . “It is physical, it is emotional, and until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be," he said on the House floor.
- Kean’s reappearance comes after he won an uncontested primary on June 2 and months since he last voted in the House. “Today I stand before you healthier, stronger and excited to return to the work that I love," Kean said.
- His absence complicated matters for House Republican leaders, who are operating with a razor-thin majority, and he missed over 100 votes.
- The lawmaker is campaigning for re-election in a competitive district and will face Democratic nominee Rebecca Bennett. Democrats view Kean Jr.'s district as a key opportunity, noting its history of changing hands in recent midterm elections.
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