GOP lawmaker says he expects McConnell will return to Capitol Hill later this month after lengthy absence

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House Oversight Chair James Comer of Kentucky said Thursday that Sen. Mitch McConnell’s staff have told him they are hoping the senator – who has had an extended absence from Washington due to health issues – will return when the Senate comes back into session on September 14.

Although he said he has not spoken to McConnell directly, Comer said he communicates regularly with the senator’s staff as their offices often work together on matters for their state.

Asked if McConnell is expected to be back at that time, Comer said, “I expect that. I sure hope so.”

“I have not talked to Leader McConnell. I’ve talked to his staff, many of whom are from my district originally. And they have all said it’s their goal for Senator McConnell to be here when the Senate comes in,” Comer said.

Stephanie Penn, a spokesperson for McConnell’s office told CNN on Wednesday when asked if there is a date for his return that there are “no scheduling announcements at this time.”

McConnell spokesman David Popp on Thursday referred CNN to the office’s latest statement.

The former Senate majority leader, who is 84 and not running for reelection, was admitted to the hospital on June 14, but his office did not disclose the reason for the hospitalization at the time.

In July, after weeks of speculation over his health status, McConnell announced that a fall had landed him in the hospital.

The senator then moved to a rehabilitation center to continue regaining his strength and later announced he was discharged in early August and would continue to recover at home.

The Senate is currently in a five-week recess period for the summer and will return Monday, September 14.

CNN’s Morgan Rimmer contributed

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众议院监督委员会主席、肯塔基州的詹姆斯·科默周四表示，参议员米奇·麦康奈尔的幕僚告诉他，他们希望这位因健康问题长期缺席华盛顿的参议员能在9月14日参议院复会时返回。

科默表示，虽然他没有直接与麦康奈尔交谈过，但他经常与这位参议员的幕僚沟通，因为他们的办公室经常在州事务上合作。

当被问及麦康奈尔届时是否会回归时，科默说：“我预计他会回来。我当然希望如此。”

科默说：“我没有和麦康奈尔议长谈过。我和他的幕僚谈过，他们当中许多人原本都来自我的选区。他们都表示，他们的目标是让麦康奈尔参议员在参议院开会时留在这里。”

麦康奈尔办公室发言人斯蒂芬妮·佩恩周三告诉 CNN，当被问及麦康奈尔何时返回时，她表示“目前还没有任何日程安排公告”。

麦康奈尔发言人戴维·波普周四建议 CNN 参考麦康奈尔办公室的最新声明。

这位84岁的前参议院多数党领袖并未竞选连任，他于6月14日入院治疗，但他的办公室当时并未透露住院原因。

7 月，在外界对他健康状况进行了数周的猜测之后，麦康奈尔宣布他因摔倒而住院。

随后，这位参议员前往康复中心继续恢复体力，并于 8 月初宣布出院，将继续在家休养。

参议院目前正处于为期五周的夏季休会期，将于9月14日星期一复会。

CNN的摩根·里默对此文亦有贡献。