The Byrd Update: Physical Therapy, Still Hospitalized

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), the longest-serving member in the history of the upper chamber, has begun physical therapy “in anticipation of being released from the hospital in the near future,” his office said in a statement released today.

The 91-year-old Byrd was hospitalized last month with “a minor infection,” then developed a more severe staph infection during treatment. If released from the hospital this week, Byrd won’t return to Capitol Hill before next week, his office indicated.

Meantime, Byrd, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee’s subpanel on homeland security, has asked Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) to assume that responsibility for the markup of the 2010 homeland security spending bill, a meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

“The need to move forward with this bill,” Byrd said in the statement, “is critical.”