Sen. Mitch McConnell returned to the Senate again this week after he was away for nearly three months while recovering from a serious fall at home.
McConnell returned to an active voting schedule this week, casting votes on college athletics, healthcare, Israel, congressional stock trading, energy costs, and a Trump administration nominee.
McConnell began Monday by opposing several amendments to the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act, including proposals addressing athlete insurance and coaching standards.
The Senate ultimately passed the broader Protect College Sports Act, S.4668, by a decisive 77-22 vote, with McConnell voting yes.
The legislation establishes protections involving college athletes’ name, image, and likeness rights while creating national standards governing intercollegiate athletics.
On Tuesday, McConnell voted against advancing S.J.Res.197, which sought to overturn a Biden-era-style Affordable Care Act regulatory framework governing insurance exchanges for 2027.
That effort failed 48-51, with McConnell joining most Republicans in opposition to proceeding with the resolution.
McConnell later voted against discharging S.Res.852 from committee, a resolution seeking information about Israel’s human-rights practices under the Foreign Assistance Act.
The Israel measure was defeated 47-51, keeping it from advancing.
Wednesday brought another packed voting schedule, with McConnell backing Republican efforts to advance two major bills.
McConnell voted yes on cloture for the Stop Insider Trading Act, which would impose restrictions on stock holdings involving members of Congress, spouses, and dependents.
The proposal received 53 votes but failed to reach the 60 votes required to advance.
McConnell also backed the Ratepayer Protection Act, aimed at preventing ordinary electricity customers from absorbing infrastructure costs associated with large-load customers, including data centers.
That measure received 57 votes but also fell short of the 60-vote threshold.
Finally, McConnell voted to advance Keith Sonderling’s nomination for Labor secretary, helping cloture pass 53-47.
Sonderling was later confirmed 47-41, but McConnell did not participate in that final confirmation vote.
McConnell was hospitalized June 14 after falling at his Washington home and briefly losing consciousness.
His office later announced that he had been discharged from rehabilitation in early August and would continue recovering at home.
The long absence prompted weeks of speculation because McConnell remained largely out of public view and his office provided only limited updates about his condition.
He had not cast an in-person Senate vote since June 11 before Monday’s return.
McConnell joked with reporters about the attention surrounding his comeback after decades of frequently avoiding their questions.
“After two years, two decades, actually, of dodging your questions, I wasn’t sure how many of you would be here today,” he said.
McConnell also outlined several issues he intends to work on during the closing months of his final Senate term.
He specifically cited the farm bill as important to Kentucky and reiterated his interest in NATO and continued U.S. support for Ukraine.
His return could matter immediately for Republicans on several pieces of legislation because narrow committee margins have made individual GOP votes important.
The farm bill stalled in the Senate Agriculture Committee last month after Democrats opposed the measure amid disagreements over changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Republican leaders are expected to make another attempt to move the legislation forward.
McConnell’s presence could also affect consideration of spending bills in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The former Republican leader has represented Kentucky in the Senate since 1985 and served as his party’s Senate leader for a record 18 years.
He stepped down from leadership in 2024 and was succeeded by Sen. John Thune of South Dakota.
McConnell has already announced that he will not seek another term when his current one expires in January.
His extended medical absence had raised questions about whether he would return before leaving office.
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