John Dingell, Longest-serving Member of Congress, Hospitalized
Rep. John Dingell, the 88-year-old Democrat from Michigan and the longest serving member of Congress, was admitted to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit with abdominal pain, his office announced today.
Spokesman Christopher Schuler issued a statement proclaiming that Dingell is "doing well, is receiving an IV treatment of antibiotics, and remains in good spirits."
Debbie Dingell, the congressman's wife who is seeking to replace him this fall, said she and her husband "are lucky" doctors "caught an infection early."
"[John] now is busy ignoring the doctors who suggested he not work his [B]lackberry today and yelling at me for not having all the newspapers he wanted - in other words, he's John Dingell," she quipped.
Schuler added that doctors expect the 30-term congressman to be released "in a few days" although he is not expected back in Washington this week, where lawmakers are set to reconvene today after a 37-day summer recess.
Dingell, however, is expected to return to the Capitol next week on Sept. 16 when Congress returns after a four-day weekend.
The Michigan Democrat broke the record as longest serving member of Congress on June 7, 2013. He has owned the title of Dean of the House of Representatives since 1995, given for the longest continuous service of a current member. He has served with more than 2,400 lawmakers in the House, worked with 11 U.S. presidents and cast more than 25,000 votes during more than 21,000 days in Congress.
Schuler declined to address further inquiries.