Rep. Tom Kean Jr., the New Jersey Republican who disappeared from public life 88 days ago, has introduced two bills since going MIA — including one as recently as last week.
On Friday, he became the lead sponsor of H.R.9061, which would force the federal government to give states clarity on whether Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program cover early-detection screenings for preeclampsia.
His office did not respond to a request for comment.
Kean’s introduction of the bill is the latest sign he remains active despite his retreat from the public in early March over what he says is a “personal medical issue.” NOTUS has caught him trading stocks and approving staff trips in his absence, even though his own neighbors attest to not having seen him for long enough that they’ve gotten worried. His wife declined to comment on his status when a NOTUS reporter paid his home a visit last month.
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The last time Kean introduced legislation was on March 26, three weeks after he was last seen on Capitol Hill; he backed a bill that would impose sanctions on Russia’s state atomic energy corporation. He’s also signed on as a cosponsor to several other pieces of legislation that were introduced in his absence.
Jessica Lee, a spokesperson for Rep. Robin Kelly, one of the three lawmakers who cosponsored Kean’s preeclampsia bill, told NOTUS the congresswoman didn’t interact with Kean directly when his office submitted the legislation. The spokesperson said Kean’s staff reached out to Kelly’s office in late 2025 to see if she wanted to be the Democratic colead, given her history of drawing attention to the medically serious pregnancy complication. Kean’s staffers have just now introduced the bill.
“For months, Congresswoman Kelly has been working on the PREEMPT Act, the first federal legislation to provide guidance and Medicaid coverage for preeclampsia. Preeclampsia can lead to seizure, stroke, organ failure, and, tragically, death of both mother and baby. The Congresswoman has not spoken to Congressman Kean recently. She remains dedicated to preventing maternal mortality, as she brought the issue to Congress nearly a decade ago,” Lee said.
Any staffer with a working House government email address can digitally submit a bill by accessing a platform called eHopper as long as they’re on the House Wi-Fi network or using a virtual private network (VPN). That’s how Kean could be the primary sponsor of legislation even if he’s nowhere near the Hill.
Harrison Neely, a consultant who works with Kean’s political team, previously told NOTUS that Kean is “dealing with a personal medical situation and is under the care of doctors. The expectation is that he is going to be 100% and totally healthy. The timeline for that looks very good.” However, staffers have been making that promise for weeks and have not detailed what condition Kean has or given an exact date for his return.
Kean’s staffers have worked to maintain an active presence online, claiming victories for constituents and sending congratulatory messages. Six posts on his official government account mention “Team Kean.” But most messages are still written in first person, like those noting special days of observation.
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