Longtime Republican U.S. Rep. Kay Granger of Texas is having "unforeseen health challenges” that have worsened in the final months of her more than two decades in Congress, a statement from her office said Monday.

Her announcement followed a report by a conservative publication that said she had missed votes since late July.

Two weeks before the 119th U.S. Congress began, a story began to circulate online that U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, a Republican from Texas who had missed votes since July 2024, had been "found" in a dementia care facility. For example, the conservative X account Libs of TikTok posted the rumor on Dec. 21, 2024 ( archived ):

Granger, 81, missed 279 of the House’s 517 votes in 2024, more than the 278 votes she missed between 1997 and 2006. Her last vote was July 24 on an amendment to reduce the salary of an Environmental Protection Agency official to $1. By contrast, Granger missed only 32 votes in 2023.

Rep. Kay Granger has not cast a vote in Congress since July and stepped down from the powerful House Appropriations Committee in March.

Lawmakers came together to fund the government on Friday, keeping the lights on in Washington until early next year and preventing a Christmas season shutdown. The package — crafted by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) — funds the government at current levels through March 14, extends the farm bill for one year and appropriates billions of dollars…

Granger's disappearance is especially significant given the tiny majority Republicans hold in the House — and the massive votes that are taking place, including the government spending bill — in the waning days of her tenure.

Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) says she’s had “unforeseen health challenges,” with her office denying that she’s in memory care.