House Republican Absent for Two Months, Straining Party's Narrow Majority

Rep. Tom Kean Jr. will miss another week of votes in Congress, extending his absence to more than two months. The New Jersey Republican has been away due to an unspecified health issue, his office confirmed. Kean's office stated that he plans to return to a full schedule soon, but did not provide a specific date. The lawmaker’s prolonged absence further strains his party’s already thin majority in the House. With every vote critical, Kean’s missing presence has made it harder for Republican leaders to pass legislation without Democratic support. There has been no additional information about the nature of his health condition.