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Chuck Grassley, the oldest US senator, was hospitalised.
The oldest senator from the United States, Republican Chuck Grassley, has been hospitalised to the hospital and is receiving treatment for an infection.
According to his staff, the 90-year-old senator is getting antibiotic infusions at a hospital in his native Iowa.
He won’t be present for the vote on Tuesday on a short-term spending plan that aims to keep the government open. Having tested positive for COVID-19, Mr. Grassley missed just one vote in 2020, capping 27 years of flawless attendance.
“Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is receiving antibiotic infusions at an area hospital to treat an infection,” a statement from his office stated on Tuesday evening.
“He is in good spirits and will return to work as soon as possible following doctors’ orders.”
With the passing of California Senator Dianne Feinstein in September, Mr. Grassley became the Senate’s oldest member.
After winning the Senate seat for the first time in 1980, he was re-elected seven times.
The last vote Mr. Grassley missed before leaving office in 2020 was in 1993 as a result of severe flooding that devastated his state.
Several elderly lawmakers, including Mr. Grassley, have recently visited hospitals due to health issues.
Following a fall last spring, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was brought to the hospital.
However, his departure coincides with a dangerous moment for his party, which is now attempting to reach a budget agreement with Democrats in order to prevent a government shutdown.