As Congress grows older, debate heats up over when to step aside

After recent media stories about Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton and Sen. Mitch McConnell, lawmakers are again reckoning with questions of whether Congress has an age problem.

Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.

Concerns about the age of U.S. lawmakers flare up every several months on both sides of the aisle. Longtime Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., fell in the halls of the Russell Senate Office Building earlier this month, one of several such incidents in recent years, while a recent police report reportedly said D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton appeared in early stages of dementia — which her office vehemently pushed back on. Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com

"I actually think this is not just an issue for Congress. I think this is a societal issue," Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, told Fox News Digital. "Now, if you attempt to come up with some sort of hard and fast rule, I don't know how you do that, because — I will be very candid, not using any names — I have served with certain members who, in their 80s, or even in their late 70s, have started to clearly slow down. I also serve with other members who are the same age, and frankly, have more energy than I have in my 40s."