Rep. Thomas H. Kean Jr. returned to the Capitol on Tuesday after an almost four-month-long absence, citing treatment for depression as the reason for his disappearance.
In a brief speech on the House floor, the New Jersey Republican described himself as a private person.
“Talking about myself has never come naturally, but I believe that I owe an explanation,” he said, adding that the experience gave him a “deeper appreciation for the millions of Americans who face these challenges each and every day.”
Since last voting on March 5, Kean has been gone from Washington, pointing to an unspecified health issue. Even as he remained out of public view for months, he introduced multiple pieces of legislation, submitted speeches to the Congressional Record and won a primary election in which he ran unopposed, trying to keep up the appearance of business as usual.
During his absence, he missed more than 140 roll call votes on the House floor.
