Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) has received a pacemaker and will return to work in Washington D.C. following a medical emergency last week.
Wilson recorded a video released Monday saying that his collapse at an event last week marking Ukraine’s Independence Day was the result of a severe drop in blood pressure.
Attendees at the event said that Wilson was treated with CPR after he collapsed.
“Providentially, I was with U.S. House Chaplain Margaret Kibben and two heart surgeons who immediately provided aid,” he said. Kibben is the former chief chaplain for the Navy.
“Doctors, nurses and additional medical personnel at George Washington University Hospital provided excellent care for speedy recovery. With a pacemaker implant, issues have been resolved for my public service.”
Wilson said he and his wife are grateful for hundreds of messages of prayers from constituents and from dozens of colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, from the House and Senate. He thanked his staff for stepping up “and fulfilling all duties” while he was recovering.
“This event will now be an inspiration of love and affection we’ve experienced from constituents,” he said in the video.
Wilson will return at a key time for House Republicans to pass legislation to avoid a government shutdown.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), overseeing a slim Republican majority, has faced some opposition in his party for a short-term funding deal, and further pressure from former President Trump to add a measure that requires proof-of-citizenship for voting. Democrats have said that legislation is a nonstarter and note it’s already illegal for non-citizens to vote.
