The Hill News

The longest-serving member of the House had to bow out of his scheduled "State of the District" speech due to illness.

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), the 84-year-old Dean of the House, had his wife take his place at an important constituent event.

He tweeted:

Have the flu, no voice, contagious. My wife Debbie delivering "State of the District" speech for me to A2/Ypsi Chamber.

Dingell’s district includes the Ann Arbor (A2) and Ypsilanti (Ypsi) areas in Michigan's Washtenaw County. Debbie Dingell delivered the speech instead, which took place at a luncheon Wednesday morning at the Four Points by Sheraton in Ann Arbor.

Dingell has held his office for 55 years, making him the longest-serving member of the House.