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U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, the retiring Fort Value Republican who has been steadily absent from Congress for months, mentioned in an announcement Sunday she has been going through “health challenges.”
“As many of my family, friends, and colleagues have known, I have been navigating some unforeseen health challenges over the past year,” she said. “However, since early September, my health challenges have progressed making frequent travel to Washington both difficult and unpredictable. During this time, my incredible staff has remained steadfast, continuing to deliver exceptional constituent services, as they have for the past 27 years.”
Granger, 81, was the primary Republican lady elected to symbolize Texas in Congress, the place she has served since 1997. In her assertion, she mentioned she was in a position to return to Washington, D.C. in November to attend conferences and oversee the closure of her workplace as her ultimate time period in workplace reaches an finish. She additionally attended a ceremony through which her portrait was unveiled to rejoice her 25-year tenure on the Home Appropriations Committee.
Granger didn’t run for reelection this yr. She shall be changed by state Rep. Craig Goldman, a Republican who gained the race for her seat in November. His time period begins when Congress returns to session on Jan. 3.
Granger didn’t say what her well being points had been. Her workers didn’t instantly reply to questions on why Granger’s well being points weren’t beforehand disclosed to the general public.
Granger’s final vote in Congress was in July. She was amongst 29 representatives who didn’t vote Friday on a important spending invoice to maintain the federal government open, however the measure overwhelmingly handed the Home. The Senate gave it ultimate passage Saturday.
The Dallas Morning Information reported Sunday that Granger’s son, Brandon Granger, mentioned his mom resides in a senior-living facility in Fort Value and experiencing “dementia issues.”
“It’s been a hard year,” he informed the Information.
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Brandon Granger denied earlier reviews that his mom was residing in a reminiscence care facility.
Granger beforehand served as Fort Value mayor. In Congress, she has served on the influential Home Appropriations Committee since 1999. She grew to become chair of the committee in 2022 earlier than stepping down from the function earlier this yr.
Reporting within the Rio Grande Valley is supported partly by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.