John Fetterman, a freshman senator from Pennsylvania, recently made headlines for his public admission of seeking treatment for clinical depression (NPR). This past week, he returned to work on Capitol Hill after taking a leave of absence to focus on his mental health (People). In an exclusive interview, Fetterman opened up about his struggles with depression and how it was exacerbated by the Pennsylvania Senate race (CNN). However, Fetterman is now back and ready to serve his full six-year term (Philadelphia Inquirer).
Fetterman’s depression was so severe that he even got lost walking around Washington, D.C. (New York Post). However, Fetterman’s return to the Senate marked his highest-profile moment yet on Capitol Hill as he chaired a hearing on food assistance programs (Politico). On Wednesday, he chaired his first subcommittee hearing, which focused on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (WGAL).
Although Fetterman made headlines for his struggles with mental health, he is also known for his support of marijuana legalization. In a recent tweet, Fetterman signaled his support of cannabis by holding up a “420” flag (Fox News).
Fetterman was elected as a Democratic Senator representing Pennsylvania. His victory against TV personality and incumbent Republican Senator, Lou Barletta, was seen as an upset in the 2018 midterms (NPR). Despite his struggles, Fetterman is back and ready to serve his constituents in the Senate.
