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14 seconds ago 2009-07-14T12:34:49-07:00
Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) was hospitalized Tuesday because of “discomfort,” according to a statement from his office.
The 82-year-old lawmaker had been working at his Capitol Hill office before being taken to a Washington-area hospital.
"As a precautionary measure he was admitted to the hospital," spokesman Adam Benson said. "The congressman is fully conscious and was joking with his staff from his cell phone while en route to the hospital. The congressman expects to be back to work for the people of Michigan in about a day or so."
Dingell had knee replacement surgery in October and has since used either a cane or wheelchair to move around.
The Michigan Democrat was defeated by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) last week in a Democratic Caucus vote for the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Dingell had been the committee’s top Democrat for the previous 28 years.
Dingell, who was first elected in 1955, will become the House’s longest serving member in history come February.
