In a statement to WFAA, the 81-year-old said she has experienced "unforeseen health challenges" this year. She's missed 126 roll call votes since July 24.

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

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 ):

FILE - House Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger, R-Texas, arrives as House Republicans meet behind closed doors to determine how quickly lawmakers can wrap up this fiscal year’s final set of spending bills and passed to avoid a partial government shutdown at the Capitol in Washington, March 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Retiring U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, a Fort Worth Republican, is experiencing “health challenges,” the longtime congresswoman said in a Sunday, Dec. 22 statement.

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

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