Summary
Texas Republican Congresswoman Kay Granger, 81, has not voted in the US House since July while reportedly dealing with dementia and living in a senior facility.
Her absence, undisclosed until media investigation, raises concerns about representation in her district and her capacity to serve.
Granger, a long-time legislator and former House Appropriations chair, announced plans to retire in 2025.
Critics argue her condition may have impacted her 2022 re-election. Local Republicans called her absence troubling amid critical votes, prompting broader debates on aging lawmakers’ transparency and governance.
At the very least, reporting debilitating medical conditions needs to be a legal requirement for holding office. It’s a national security issue.
And that legal requirement shouldn’t be applied to the congressmember, but to the office itself. There’s no way the staff didn’t know, so the entire office should carry an obligation to report, that way someone will do it.