Democrats can breathe easier now that the Senate Judiciary Committee is back to being fully staffed. Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein returned to work Wednesday after a two and a half month absence due to a bout with shingles. She entered the building in a wheelchair but she was smiling.

Shingles is a nasty ailment. It’s a painful rash that can incapacitate a healthy person, much less the havoc it must have caused on the body of an 89 year old Feinstein. She was out for an extended amount of time, most likely due to her advanced age. Her doctors have advised her to work a “lighter schedule” due to continued side effects. Her side effects include vision and balance impairments.

“My doctors have advised me to work a lighter schedule as I return to the Senate,” Feinstein said in the statement. “I’m hopeful those issues will subside as I continue to recover.”

In her statement, Feinstein said that the “most pressing” issue facing the Senate is to raise the debt ceiling and avoid default. “I also look forward to resuming my work on the Judiciary Committee considering the president’s judicial nominees,” she said.

She looked thin and frail but it must have been a relief to her Democrat colleagues to welcome her back. Chuck Schumer greeted her as she came out of her car. He and the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have been antsy for Feinstein’s return so that she can resume voting for Biden’s judicial nominees in that committee. Some of the most difficult nominees are left and all hands have to be on deck to get them voted out of the committee since they will be party line votes.

Feinstein missed the Senate’s two votes on Wednesday morning but arrived for an afternoon vote. She returned to Washington Tuesday but missed a vote on Tuesday evening. The Wednesday afternoon vote was to confirm a Department of Education nominee.

Feinstein’s return after 10 weeks away from the Senate gives Democrats a better cushion as they navigate their narrow 51-49 majority. She had asked Schumer to temporarily replace her on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where some of Biden’s judicial nominations have stalled without her tie-breaking vote. But Republicans blocked that request last month, giving Democrats few options to move those nominees – and important bills, like a potential debt package – unless she returned or resigned.

It is unclear if Feinstein will be able to cast a vote on all crucial votes. Democrats were beginning to treat her absence shabbily, with many beginning to speak out that she should resign or go ahead and retire. She announced in February that she will not seek re-election. She asked to be temporarily replaced on the Senate Judiciary Committee until she was able to return after Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) called on her to resign from the Senate. He said it was unacceptable for her to miss votes to confirm judges who might be weighing in on the issue of abortion. Abortion remains a top priority for Democrats. Khanna was one of the first to call for her resignation. He has a personal interest, after all. He endorsed Rep. Barbara Lee in her bid to become California’s next senator, replacing Feinstein in 2024. Khanna is co-chair for her campaign. He was often mentioned as a potential candidate for the Senate seat himself but decided against running.

Feinstein has had a long career in politics, including as the first woman to serve as the Judiciary Committee’s top Democrat. I always thought it odd that a non-lawyer was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. She is not an attorney. YMMV.

She is the oldest member of the Senate. Chuck Schumer’s life is a little easier with her being back.

“I’m glad that my friend Dianne is back in the Senate and ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work,” Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement. “After talking with her multiple times over the past few weeks, it’s clear she’s back where she wants to be and ready to deliver for California.”

Feinstein isn’t the only senator to be absent for an extended amount of time. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) were out for weeks for medical reasons. Neither of them was called on to resign by members of their own party, though.