On January 3, 2025, during the opening day of the 119th Congress after the House Speaker vote, 81-year-old Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) slipped and fell on marble stairs outside the House chamber while descending after visiting family in the gallery. As such things have continued to happen throughout the year, with elderly representatives repeatedly falling, the incident remains relevant as one of many that some are using to push for term limits and age limits in Congress.
Rep. Foxx, in any case, sustained minor cuts, received on-site medical attention, and walked to the Capitol physician’s office. Foxx downplayed the incident humorously on social media, assuring supporters that she was fine amid concerns about the health of aging lawmakers.
Issuing an official statement, her office declared, “Rep. Foxx slipped while walking down the marble staircase outside the House chamber after walking up to talk to her family in the gallery. After being helped to her feet, and looked over by medical personnel, she proceeded on her own to the Attending Physician’s office to get treated for a few individual cuts. Everything seems to be okay.”
Additionally, ABC reporter John Parkinson explained, “A bleeding Rep. Virginia Foxx is currently receiving medical attention – holding her nose as she receives aid – appears to have fallen down marble stairs on the West side of the House. Lots of blood but officer tells me she’s okay as press is cleared from area. She is conscious/ talking.”
In an official post to social media, Foxx confirmed the fall. “Thank you to everyone for your prayers – just a few small cuts and I’m doing just fine. I’m a mountain woman, and we’re tougher than a $2 steak,” she said after the nasty fall.
Calling for a major change in Congress, one conservative comment read, “🚨 JUST IN: US Rep. Virginia Fox, 81, is receiving medical attention after falling down at the Capitol. Congress is a freaking nursing home at this point. TERM LIMITS.”
In the comments under this viral post, the same user noted, “Is it too much to ask to have members of Congress who are mobile and aren’t confined to dementia care homes? 🤣,” adding, “It’s not even just about the age. It’s the fact she’s starting term number 11. Come on now.”
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Agreeing with another post read, “She tweeted that she’s fine & tougher than a $2 steak. Like ma’am, it’s time for you to go home to your family and leave Congress!” Likewise, a conservative joked, “Congress really is a nursing home at this point! These people become lifelong politicians and multimillionaires off of the backs of the American people. It needs to end.”
Taking a more gentle tone, one comment joked, “Let’s pray for her health and pray Congress concludes being a nursing home in the next decade.” Similarly, another comment noted, “This is highly concerning. We need term limits now. DC shouldn’t not be a hospice care center right now.”
Fed up, one conservative said, “And then we have ones that just disappear for weeks and turn up at a real nursing home. wtaf.” Similarly, another noted, “The only way term limits work is if that includes the bureaucracy. And they will never let their grift get cut short. But age limits would work and probably easier to get passed.”