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Sen. Mitch McConnell returned to the U.S. Capitol on Monday and cast his first Senate vote in three months, ending a lengthy absence that began after the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican suffered a serious fall at his Washington home and was subsequently treated for pneumonia.

McConnell, who appeared at the Capitol in a wheelchair, acknowledged that his recovery remains incomplete and said he is continuing physical therapy as he deals with the lingering effects of childhood polio. His return comes as Senate Republicans face a series of closely contested votes in the coming weeks.

In a statement released Monday, McConnell said he would “cast my first Senate vote since I took a bad fall back in June.”

“I’m really looking forward to being back on the Senate floor and seeing my colleagues. My recovery has been a long and often frustrating process, and the lingering effects of childhood polio haven’t made it any easier,” McConnell said. “I’m still not quite back to 100%, but I’ve assured Leader Thune that, as I continue with physical therapy on the advice of my doctors, I will do my best to be present for tough votes when our Conference needs me.”

McConnell also thanked those who had sent messages and expressed concern during his recovery.

“Elaine and I are very grateful for all the continued well wishes from our fellow Kentuckians, and I’m glad to get back to more of business as usual on their behalf this month,” he continued.

McConnell had not participated in Senate votes or committee work since June, when he fell at his Washington home. He later disclosed that the fall had left him “briefly unconscious.” His recovery was further complicated when he developed a mild case of pneumonia, after which he spent time in a rehabilitation facility.

The lengthy absence prompted questions about McConnell’s condition and whether he would be able to return to Washington before his Senate term concludes. For weeks after the fall, relatively little information was publicly available about his health before McConnell eventually released additional details about the incident and his recovery.

McConnell has said that his childhood bout with polio has made recovering from the fall more difficult. He contracted polio as a young child and has dealt with lasting effects from the illness throughout his life.

His return could prove important for Republicans because of the party’s closely divided Senate majority. Fox News reported that GOP lawmakers are preparing for another attempt to advance a major farm aid and funding package this week after a previous effort failed without McConnell’s vote.

The Kentucky senator has experienced a series of health issues and falls in recent years. His health attracted particular attention in 2023 after he twice appeared to freeze while speaking publicly. He also suffered a concussion and fractured rib after a fall at a Washington hotel that year and has had several subsequent falls.

Despite those difficulties, McConnell indicated Monday that he intends to participate when his vote is particularly important, even as he continues his rehabilitation.

McConnell has represented Kentucky in the Senate since 1985 and is the longest-serving Senate party leader in American history, having led Senate Republicans from 2007 until stepping aside from the leadership position in 2025. He is not seeking another term and is scheduled to leave the Senate when his current term expires in January 2027.

His appearance Monday marked his first time back at the Capitol since the June hospitalization and brought an end, at least for now, to months of uncertainty over when he would be physically able to resume his Senate duties. McConnell made clear, however, that his recovery is continuing and that he has not yet returned to full strength.

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An Israeli animal rights organization has launched a renewed campaign urging municipalities across the country to prohibit the use of live chickens for kapparos ahead of Yom Kippur, with several additional local authorities reportedly agreeing this year not to permit the longstanding minhag in public areas under their jurisdiction.

According to Israeli sources, the organization Let the Animals Live, known in Hebrew as Tnu L’Chayot Lichyot, contacted dozens of mayors and heads of local authorities throughout Israel, asking them to refrain from granting permits for kapparos involving chickens.

The campaign is being conducted for the second consecutive year as the organization seeks to persuade more municipalities to restrict the traditional practice.

Four municipalities — Tel Mond, Yerucham, Mevaseret Zion and Yavne — reportedly joined the initiative this year and said they would not allow kapparos with live chickens. Kiryat Bialik and Rishon Lezion, which responded positively to the organization’s appeal last year, renewed their commitments this year.

According to the organization, those municipalities join several others that have already barred chicken kapparos in areas under their authority for a number of years. The list cited includes Kfar Saba, Ra’anana, Tel Aviv-Yaffo, Beer Sheva, Ashkelon, Ramla and Petach Tikva.

Let the Animals Live has argued that municipalities have the legal authority to prevent public kapparos ceremonies involving chickens. According to the organization, procedures issued by Israel’s Veterinary Services allow individual local authorities to prohibit the use of live chickens for kapparos within their jurisdictions.

Even in municipalities where the practice is not prohibited, organizers of chicken kapparos are required to receive authorization from the local veterinary department, according to the report. That requirement applies whether or not the actual shechitah is performed at the location where the kapparos take place.

The animal rights organization maintains that the handling and transportation of large numbers of chickens for kapparos can cause suffering to the birds and has called upon municipal leaders to use their authority to prevent the ceremonies from taking place in public areas.

{Matzav.com}