Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) returned to Capitol Hill on Tuesday after a four-month absence, revealing for the first time that he had been hospitalized and treated for depression. His explanation ended months of speculation surrounding his disappearance from Congress, during which he missed more than 100 House votes.

Addressing fellow lawmakers from the House floor, Kean said he felt an obligation to explain what had kept him away from Washington and why his return had taken far longer than anyone expected.

“Several months ago, due to health concerns, I entered the hospital for some testing. I did not believe that this would result in a long-term stay,” Kean said. “I was given the diagnosis of depression.”

He explained that physicians urged him to remain hospitalized so he could receive intensive treatment, even though he initially struggled to accept that recommendation.

“The doctors recommended that I remain in the hospital to address my illness,” Kean said. “They explained to me that this would be the fastest way to recovery, and to be honest, I was hesitant. I didn’t think that I had time for it …. Like many people, I believed that I could simply push through.”

“But I agreed to follow my doctor’s recommendations again, not believing that it would result in a long-term stay,” Kean said.

Until Tuesday’s remarks, the congressman had disclosed almost nothing about his condition. In April, he issued only a brief statement saying he was dealing with a “personal medical issue,” offering no additional details.

Looking back on that announcement, Kean said he himself did not yet fully understand what he was facing.

“When I first informed the public that I was dealing with a medical issue, I was still trying to understand what was happening myself, when I said I hoped to return in a matter of weeks, I believed it,” Kean said on the House floor on Tuesday.

He noted that recovery from depression does not follow a predictable schedule.

“But as the over 48 million of my fellow Americans being treated for this illness have come to discover, there is no timeline for healing. There is no timeline for recovery. Only the work of getting better one day at a time,” Kean said.

Kean said his treatment has been successful and that he is ready to resume serving his district, telling colleagues he is now “healthier, stronger, and excited to return to the work that I love.”

At the beginning of his speech, Kean acknowledged that speaking about his personal life did not come easily, but said he believed he owed “an explanation to the people of New Jersey’s seventh district, the colleagues in this chamber, and to the American people for my absence.”

His extended disappearance from Washington had prompted widespread questions about his health and when—or whether—he would return. At one point, when questioned by The New York Times, his chief of staff replied, “There’s no cameras where Tom is.”

The prolonged absence also became a political issue as Kean prepares to seek another term representing New Jersey’s competitive 7th Congressional District, a seat widely viewed as one of the nation’s key battlegrounds.

During his remarks, Kean expressed gratitude to the residents of his district for standing by him, thanking them for their patience, understanding, and prayers throughout his recovery.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Wednesday that he had encouraged Kean to be more forthcoming about his condition.

“If it were me I would have been more specific about that. … It’s not an uncommon kind of condition and ailment that he’s been fighting, and I think people resonate with that. I think he’ll get a lot of empathy, because it’s something that’s very, very common,” he said.

Kean’s absence also complicated Republican leadership’s efforts in the narrowly divided House, where even a handful of missing GOP votes can determine the fate of party-line legislation.

Earlier this month, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) publicly criticized Kean’s absence.

“Where is he? No, seriously. It’s embarrassing,” Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) told TMZ earlier this month. “We’re supposed to be the party that is against campaigning from the basement.”

Despite his extended leave, President Trump endorsed Kean’s reelection campaign. Kean also told the New Jersey Globe that his illness has not affected his cognitive abilities.

Concluding his remarks, Kean said the experience gave him a greater understanding of the millions of Americans living with depression and encouraged others not to suffer in silence.

“This experience has given me a deeper appreciation for the millions of Americans who face these challenges each and every day. Many do so quietly. Many do so alone. Many do so like carrying burdens that the rest of us never see,” Kean said in his speech. “To them, I would say asking for help is not a weakness, it is a strength.”

{Matzav.com}