John Lewis returns to House floor for first vote since cancer diagnosis

U.S. Rep. John Lewis was photographed on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 18, 2019. He announced on Dec. 29 that he had advanced pancreatic cancer, but returned to Washington for a vote on a war power resolution on Jan. 9, 2020. (Alyssa Schukar/The New York Times)

Credit: ALYSSA SCHUKAR

Credit: ALYSSA SCHUKAR

U.S. Rep. John Lewis was photographed on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 18, 2019. He announced on Dec. 29 that he had advanced pancreatic cancer, but returned to Washington for a vote on a war power resolution on Jan. 9, 2020. (Alyssa Schukar/The New York Times)

U.S. Rep. John Lewis is back on the House floor today, less than two weeks since announcing a diagnosis of stage four pancreatic cancer.

He came to the chamber to vote with Democrats in favor of a resolution that would limit President Donald Trump's ability to take further military action in Iran. That action is in response to Trump's decision to authorize the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, which led to a counter-attack Tuesday night targeting U.S. troops in Iraq.

There were no casualties, and afterward both the Iranian government and the Trump administration downplayed the possibility of additional use of weaponry. Still, Democrats question Trump’s decision to take Soleimani out and say Congress should have been consulted first.

Lewis, 79, announced he has cancer on Dec. 29 and pledged to continue working while undergoing treatment in Washington.

“Good to be back,” he said as he entered the chamber.