Steve Scalise returning to full travel schedule after cancer treatment
Published Date: 2/23/2024
Source: axios.com

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) is hitting the ground running after undergoing treatment for blood cancer, he told Axios in an interview.

Why it matters: Scalise is now in full remission from multiple myeloma, and still has to take precautions around crowds as his immune system rebuilds.


  • "It's great back in the game — when you're away on calls there's only so much you can do over the phone and this is going on and you want to be more involved and this vote is going to be close but you can't leave," the No. 2 Republican told Axios.

Zoom in: Scalise is set to return to his full travel schedule and play a key role as the House deals with a frantic few months.

  • Scalise's return helped pass the House impeachment of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas after it originally failed in a major embarrassment for GOP leaders.
  • House GOP leadership is trying to avoid a government shutdown in March, even as members have become pessimistic they'll avert a shutdown.

The big picture: Scalise is hoping to help get some major things accomplished before the end of the year.

  • "There's still big things we want to do and, you know, even with tight majorities, like we have there's the ability to move an agenda — it might not be as ambitious as we would want," he said in an interview.
  • "Everyday you have got to work with the membership to see if this is something we can get a majority of votes to pass and we're going to have some continued fights — we're trying to secure the border and we passed a bill to do that."