- Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein returns to Senate floor following months-long absence
- The California lawmaker cast her first vote on Wednesday afternoon, giving Democrats back their full majority
- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer greeted Feinstein with a handshake and a pat on the back
California Sen. Dianne Feinstein returns to the Senate floor after a months-long absence and bout with shingles, giving Democrats back their full majority as she casts her vote.
The lawmaker's return gives The Democratic Party a much-needed final vote as they try to confirm United States President Joe Biden's nominees and increase the country's debt limit in the following weeks.
Dianne Feinstein Returns to Senate Floor
Feinstein, arriving with help and in a wheelchair, looked noticeably thinner and frail as she was still recovering from shingles. She could not make it to the Senate's first votes on Wednesday morning but made it in time for the afternoon vote.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer greeted the California Democrat with a handshake and a pat on the back. The 89-year-old senator said that he was still recovering from the side effects of the illness and was already working on a reduced schedule, as per NBC Bay Area.
In a statement, Feinstein said that her doctors told her to work on a lighter schedule when she returns to the Senate. She added that she was still optimistic that her illness would subside as she continued to recover.
The California senator's return to the Senate after a 10-week-long absence gave Democrats a safety cushion as they navigate their narrow majority. Feinstein said she asked Schumer to place her on the Senate Judiciary Committee temporarily.
That is where some of the president's judicial nominations have stalled without her tie-breaking vote. However, Republican lawmakers, last month blocked that request, which gave Democrats only a few options to move the nominees around as well as bills unless Feinstein was able to return or if she accepted calls to resign.
Schumer said he and his fellow senators welcomed Feinstein back to the floor, saying it was good to see a "dear friend and esteemed colleague" back and ready to work. According to CBS News, the situation also comes amid a fast-approaching deadline for raising the country's debt limit.
Calling for the Senator To Resign
During Feinstein's absence, many of the Democratic colleagues urged her to resign, saying that her prolonged leave hindered the party's ability to move legislation and judicial nominees. However, the California senator rejected the requests and dismissed concerns that her absence affected the confirmation of the nominees.
In a statement, Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said that the committee's business was affected by Feinstein's absence. Democratic lawmakers who called on the senator to resign included Rep. Ro Khanna and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Previous issues have risen from Feinstein's growing memory and cognitive problems, causing concerns among allies. Furthermore, a coalition of 65 grass-roots organizations in her home state have signed a letter calling for her resignation, said the New York Times.
