McConnell Returns to Senate, Aims to Finish the Job as Farm Bill Looms

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell returns to the Senate after a three‑month absence following a June fall and lingering effects from childhood polio. He says he’s not yet back to full strength but will participate in important votes as he continues physical therapy, including a farm bill markup in which his presence is pivotal for Republicans who hold a slim majority. McConnell, 84, is retiring at year’s end and has faced health concerns in recent years, including a concussion and rib fracture in 2023.