Recent health scares among members of Congress raise the question of how old is too old for politicians.
Voters are increasingly concerned about the age of those working to pass laws and impose regulations on Americans.
While there is no age limit for those who serve in the legislative branch, members from both parties — several of whom have worked from serving in Congress — have crossed the 80-year-old threshold and continue to work in both rooms.
The average age in the House of Representatives is 57, while the average age in the Senate is slightly higher at 64.
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From left to right: Rep. Grace Napolitano D-Calif.; Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.; Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa; and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, Paul Morigi via Getty Images)
Of the 435 lawmakers in the House, 15 are 80 or older.
Those serving in the House who are 80 or older include California Democrat Grace Napolitano, 86; DC Democrat delegate Eleanor Norton, 86; Kentucky Republican Hal Rogers, 85; New Jersey Democrat Bill Pascrell Jr., 86; California Democrat Maxine Waters, 84; Maryland Democrat Steny Hoyer, 84; South Carolina Democrat Jim Clyburn, 83; California Democrat Nancy Pelosi, 83; Illinois Democrat Danny Davis, 81; Texas Republican John Carter, 82; California Democrat Anna Eshoo, 80; Florida Democrat Fredrica Wilson, 80; Connecticut Democrat Rosa DeLauro, 80; North Carolina Republican Virginia Foxx, 80; and Texas Republican Kay Granger, 80.
SEN DIANNE FEINSTEIN ADMITTED TO BEING HOSPITALIZED AFTER SAN FRANCISCO
Of the 100 lawmakers in the Senate today, four are 80 or older, with one just turning 90.
Those serving in the Senate who are 80 or older include California Democrat Dianne Feinstein, 90; Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley, 89; Vermont independent Bernie Sanders, 81; and Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell, 81.
In recent months, a series of health scares from members of both parties have prompted discussions of term limits and age restrictions for those who serve in Congress.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., during a Senate Intelligence Committee nomination hearing in Washington, DC, July 12, 2023. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Earlier this week, Feinstein, who has represented the Golden State in the Senate since 1992, was briefly hospitalized in California after collapsing at her home in San Francisco.
“Senator Feinstein briefly went to the hospital yesterday afternoon as a precaution after a minor fell at her home. All of her scans were clear, and she went home,” a spokesperson for the senator said. said in a statement about the matter.
But this isn’t the first time Feinstein, the longest-serving member of Congress, has been hospitalized this year. After returning from a nearly three-month absence from the Senate earlier this year, Feinstein’s office confirmed that she was hospitalized with severe neurological complications from shingles that affected her brain and face in February.
The 90-year-old has been suffering from a number of health issues for more than a year, causing many to wonder about his fitness for office. Since his return to the room, there have been many moments when Feinstein seemed confused about what he did and what his responsibilities were during the hearings.
McConnell, who turned 81 in February and serves as Senate minority leader, also recently suffered a health scare at a press conference with other Republican leaders.
After a weekly party dinner last month, McConnell, who has represented Kentucky in the Senate since 1985, appeared to freeze as he spoke to reporters about the work Senate Republicans are doing.
MCCONNELL FREEZES DURING PRESS CONFERENCE, SAYS MODEL ‘I’M FINE’
“Good afternoon, everybody. We’re on a path to finalizing the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) this week. There’s been good bipartisan cooperation and a bunch of …” McConnell said, before pausing and stared blankly for almost a minute before. colleagues intervened.
“Are you okay, Mitch?” Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wy., asked. “Is there anything else you want to say or should we just go back to your office?”
McConnell then stepped aside while Sen. John Thune, RS.D., and others spoke to the press on the one-year anniversary of the passing of the Democrat led Inflation Reduction Act. The GOP leader reappeared about 10 minutes later to end the press conference.
Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., arrives to assist Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., after McConnell stopped speaking during a press conference at the Capitol July 26, 2023, in Washington, DC (Drew Anger/Getty Images)
A McConnell aide told Fox News that the senator “felt light-headed and walked away for a while. He came back to handle the Q and A, which, as everyone observed, was sharp.”
“I’m fine,” he told reporters, and continued to answer questions.
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Earlier this year, McConnell suffered a concussion and broken ribs in a fall at a Washington hotel and spent time recovering at an inpatient rehabilitation center before returning to the Senate.
In addition to the senior members of the legislative branch, the head of the executive branch, President Biden, will turn 81 in November.
Brandon Gillespie and Jamie Joseph of Fox News contributed to this article.
