Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) announced Thursday that she was hospitalized and receiving treatment for a concussion, leaving Senate Democrats without a full majority this week as two other senators were absent from Capitol Hill.
Feinstein confirmed Thursday that she was hospitalized after her spokeswoman announced she was leaving California to focus on “health issues.”
“During the February break, I was diagnosed with hives. I was hospitalized and treated in San Francisco and expect to make a full recovery. I hope to return to the Senate later this month,” said the 89-year-old California senator.
Feinstein has missed numerous votes and committee hearings since she began feeling ill, said her spokesman, Adam Russell. Feinstein, who has nearly two years left in her term, announced last month that she would not seek re-election in 2024.
Feinstein is not the only Democratic senator currently absent from the upper chamber.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) has been hospitalized since mid-February as he is being treated for “clinical depression,” with no return date set.
Additionally, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) flew home after his mother passed away earlier in the week.
However, Senate Republicans also lost a member as Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) was absent due to the coronavirus cut.
Although Senate Democrats began the new Congress with a 51-49 majority, control of the Senate this week became a functional 48-48 majority, forcing Vice President Kamala Harris to step up and take multiple votes. .
as Washington Examiner reported:
The Democratic-controlled Senate voted 49 to 48 in favor of one of Biden’s judicial nominees, Margaret Guzman, to become Massachusetts’ first Hispanic federal judge. Harris also had to break a 48-48 deadlock Tuesday to confirm Araceli Martinez-Holguin as a federal judge in the Northern District of California.
White House deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton declined to comment on whether President Joe Biden’s administration feared the absence of some Democratic senators could prevent confirmation of President Joe Biden’s nominee to lead the department. Labor, Julie Su.
Jordan Dixon-Hamilton is a reporter for Breitbart News. Write to him jdixonhamilton@breitbart.com or follow him Twitter.
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