{"id":2635436,"date":"2026-07-25T16:23:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T20:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-legislation-has-mitch-mcconnells-absence-stalled-in-the-senate\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T16:24:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T20:24:52","slug":"what-legislation-has-mitch-mcconnells-absence-stalled-in-the-senate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-legislation-has-mitch-mcconnells-absence-stalled-in-the-senate\/","title":{"rendered":"What legislation has Mitch McConnell&#8217;s absence stalled in the Senate?"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhat-legislation-has-mitch-mcconnells-absence-stalled-in-the-senate%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2635436&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>senator Mitch McConnell&#8217;s prolonged absence from the Senate due to a fall and health issues has raised concerns among Republicans about their ability to advance legislation. With only a 53-vote majority in the 100-seat Senate, his absence as June 14 has stalled key bills, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >including high-stakes defense spending<\/a> and the renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. McConnell, who previously served as Senate leader, now chairs the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee; his absence has contributed to partisan deadlock and delays in important legislative processes. Critics and colleagues question his transparency and health status, with some calling for his resignation if he cannot be more open. His absence complicates negotiations on vital issues like government funding,military budgets,and foreign policy,highlighting the impact of his silence and health status on Senate operations.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mitch-mcconnell\/\">Mitch McConnell\u2019s<\/a> (R-KY) prolonged absence from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\">Washington, D.C.,<\/a> has Republicans concerned about legislation they\u2019re struggling to push through Congress given the confines of their narrow majority. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The party holds only a 53-to-47 majority in the Senate, making every vote critical. McConnell\u2019s absence, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4645482\/mcconnell-fall-led-to-hospitalization-wont-return-senate-floor-yet\/\">since a fall<\/a> and subsequent hospitalization on June 14, has stalled high-stakes legislative packages, raising scrutiny from GOP colleagues worried about advancing bills before the deadline for the usual appropriations process on Oct. 1. If Congress does not pass the annual appropriations bill by Sept. 30, a partial government shutdown will ensue, a development made increasingly probable by McConnell\u2019s absence, among other complicating factors.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4663599\/what-legislation-mcconnell-stall-senate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>What legislation has Mitch McConnell\u2019s absence stalled in the Senate?<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/4660428\/establishment-democrats-risk-extinction-socialism-rises-joe-concha\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Establishment Democrats risk \u2018extinction\u2019 as socialism rises: Joe Concha<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/4656969\/van-jones-hits-progressives-gobbling-up-democratic-party\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Van Jones hits progressives for \u2018hijacking\u2019 the Democratic Party<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re at 52\u201d Republican votes, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.notus.org\/senate\/mitch-mcconnell-absence-senate-committees-votes\">told<\/a> <em>NOTUS <\/em>this week, versus the 53 seats the party holds in the Senate. \u201cThis is the reality.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McConnell, 84, was the longest-serving Senate leader in history before stepping aside and allowing Thune to fill the top spot in January 2025.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The extended absence of McConnell as a senior lawmaker with deep institutional knowledge and longstanding ties to colleagues could complicate sensitive negotiations to bring back an expired provision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. FISA is known as a controversial measure that has split lawmakers across party lines over the balance between national security and civil liberties. President Donald Trump has further complicated the renewal of the key government spying program by insisting that Congress pair any extension with the SAVE America Act, his signature election integrity bill.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Kentucky lawmaker\u2019s absence from the upper chamber could derail final passage of the over $1 trillion defense spending package that the House recently approved. In addition, the Trump administration\u2019s supplemental funding request for $87.6 billion for the war in Iran is at stake. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">McConnell chairs the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, making his voice a critical one on the panel, which has fallen into partisan deadlock due to his absence.\u00a0The Appropriations Committee is split 14-14 between Democrats and Republicans, making it essentially impossible to advance controversial legislation. Senate Democrats have made it a negotiating tactic to not support advancing appropriations bills unless increases for the military are paired with similar increases for domestic programs. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt definitely has an impact on approps \u2013\u2013 it\u2019s probably the most deeply felt,\u201d Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), who serves on the Appropriations Committee, told the outlet, adding that losing McConnell\u2019s vote in such partisan negotiations has made those conversations \u201cimpossible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stephen Voss, a University of Kentucky political science professor, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kentucky.com\/news\/politics-government\/article316520230.html\">told<\/a> the<em> Lexington Herald Leader<\/em> that \u201cif McConnell\u2019s absence is affecting the politics of an issue, it may affect it quietly.\u201d <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt may convince the bill\u2019s handlers to slip in something desired by a different Republican because they need to make up for McConnell\u2019s vote not being available,\u201d he said. \u201cWe won\u2019t necessarily see the impact because it happens behind the scenes implicitly rather than an event you can mark down in the calendar.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Agriculture Committee\u2019s work to advance the \u201cfarm bill,\u201d an omnibus, multiyear law that governs an array of agricultural and food programs, has also stalled, as McConnell is the second-ranking Republican on the panel. Republicans don\u2019t have enough votes without McConnell to advance it out of the Senate Agriculture Committee, since his absence leaves the panel at 11-11, allowing Democrats to thwart progress due to their belief that states must start sharing costs under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, leading Republicans such as Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV) to express concern about the delays\u2019 impact on West Virginian farmers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) added that the issue extends outside the committee, pointing to Senate Republicans being able to only narrowly shoot<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.notus.org\/defense\/war-powers-vote-iran-passes-july-23\"> down<\/a> a resolution limiting the Trump administration\u2019s war powers in Iran on Thursday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere\u2019s only 53 votes,\u201d Hawley said. \u201cWhen you have multiple people gone at a time, it\u2019s like, well, you can\u2019t even control the floor. It\u2019s got to be frustrating to be the leader.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Kentucky senator has been largely silent about his absence after he fell on June 14, sparking controversy and rumors about his health. His doctor released a statement earlier this month saying he had been hospitalized for four weeks for minor falls throughout the year and a slight case of pneumonia. McConnell did not break any bones when he fell and did not suffer a heart attack, a stroke, a hemorrhage, or a concussion, according to his team. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFolks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older,\u201d the senator said in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mcconnell.senate.gov\/public\/index.cfm\/pressreleases?ID=EB724698-4D2F-4E6E-9D3A-163943986C85\">a July 12 statement<\/a> that broke weeks of silence. \u201cEven in the public eye, I feel that same instinct \u2014 I can\u2019t help it.\u201d <\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4641771\/trump-no-idea-mitch-mcconnell-health\/\"><strong>TRUMP SAYS \u2018I HAVE NO IDEA\u2019 ABOUT HOSPITALIZED MITCH MCCONNELL\u2019S HEALTH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The lack of detail and updates from McConnell, along with his not being seen in public since June 14, has<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4660916\/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-mitch-mcconnell-resign-health-update\/\"> sparked criticism<\/a> from some colleagues in Congress. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said this week that the senator should resign if he cannot be more transparent with constituents. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re seeing increasingly these votes are being decided by a one- or two-vote margin, and if you\u2019re not capable of \u2014 not only not capable of doing the job presently, but we need to know if you\u2019re capable of doing the job for the foreseeable future, and that I think is tremendously important,\u201d she said. \u201cI don\u2019t think any American has ever experienced the ability to just leave your job for over a month with no explanation to your employer, and we are accountable to the public.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>McConnell\u2019s absence hampers Senate votes, risking shutdown<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2635437,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/mcconnell-proof-of-life.jpeg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[83198,34365,83199,56106,35343],"class_list":["post-2635436","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-legislative-stalled","tag-mitch-mcconnell","tag-senate-absence","tag-senate-legislation","tag-u-s-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/mcconnell-proof-of-life.jpeg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2635436","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2635436"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2635436\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2635444,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2635436\/revisions\/2635444"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2635437"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2635436"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2635436"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2635436"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}