Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., returned to the House floor Tuesday after being away from Congress for 116 days, revealing publicly for the first time that he had been hospitalized and treated for severe depression following a diagnosis that required him to step away from his duties under doctors’ orders.
The New Jersey lawmaker had been absent from public view since early March, missing more than 100 House votes while his office provided only limited information, describing his condition as a “personal health issue.”
His lengthy absence prompted questions from constituents, political observers and even members of his own party about when—or whether—he would return to Capitol Hill. Despite being away from Congress, Kean secured the Republican nomination in early June after receiving President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
Addressing fellow lawmakers from the House floor, Kean explained that although discussing his personal life has never come naturally, he believed it was important to explain his absence.
“This is not an easy speech for me to give,” Kean said. “I am a private person by nature, and I have spent most of my life talking about the people that I represent, the issues facing our communities, and the work that continues to be done. Talking about myself has never come naturally, but I believe that I owe an explanation to the people of New Jersey’s 7th District, to my colleagues in this chamber, and to American people for my absence.”
Kean said he initially entered the hospital for medical testing and expected to return home after a short stay. Instead, he said doctors diagnosed him with depression.
“Now, when people hear the word depression, many people think simply means feeling sad,” he said. “But depression is so much more than that. It is physical. It is emotional. And until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be.”
The congressman acknowledged that he initially resisted medical advice to remain hospitalized because he believed he could continue fulfilling his responsibilities.
“I didn’t think that I had time for it,” Kean said. “I had responsibilities to my family. I had responsibility to my constituents. I had responsibilities to this institution. And like many people, I believe that I could simply push through.”
Kean said he eventually accepted his doctors’ recommendations and, during treatment, realized the extent to which depression had affected his life over an extended period.
He also addressed why earlier expectations that he would return within weeks ultimately proved unrealistic.
“When I said I hoped to return in a matter of weeks, I believed it,” Kean said. “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 concluded his remarks by expressing gratitude to the medical professionals who cared for him during his hospitalization and recovery.
“Today, I am grateful that I listened to my doctors,” he said. “And I am grateful for the exceptional care that I received from doctors, nurses, and support staff. I am thankful that I accepted help.”
The congressman’s remarks marked the first detailed public explanation for his months-long absence and his return to legislative duties after receiving treatment for severe depression.
[READ MORE: Trump Presses Gas Retailers to Lower Prices as Oil Falls]
