The 90-year-old Senator Chuck Grassley from Iowa is currently receiving antibiotic infusions at a hospital in his home state. As a result, he will be unable to attend the Tuesday vote to advance a short-term spending bill aimed at preventing a government shutdown.
Known for his remarkable dedication, Mr. Grassley had boasted 27 years of perfect attendance before missing a vote in 2020 due to testing positive for Covid-19. His office released a statement on Tuesday night, confirming that he is being treated for an infection and is in good spirits.
The statement from his office read, “Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is receiving antibiotic infusions at an area hospital to treat an infection. He is in good spirits and will return to work as soon as possible following doctors’ orders.” However, no further details about the infection were provided.
Following the passing of California Senator Dianne Feinstein in September, Mr. Grassley became the oldest member of the Senate. He has been serving in the Senate since 1980 and has been re-elected seven times.
Prior to his absence in 2020, the last vote Mr. Grassley missed was in 1993 due to severe floods that devastated his state.
We wish Senator Chuck Grassley a speedy recovery and hope to see him back in action soon.