Kennedy to return full-time with warm weather

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) has told colleagues that he is committed to passing health reform this summer and will return to Washington full time when the weather warms.

The 77-year -old lawmaker was diagnosed with a brain tumor last May and has made few appearances on Capitol Hill since. He’s been recovering in Florida.

Kennedy returned to Washington on Thursday to attend a healthcare summit at the White House and will be honored Sunday at the Kennedy Center .

On Friday, Kennedy plans to have lunch with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) to discuss healthcare reform strategy.

“He’s here and I’ve talked to him and he’s in good form,” said Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), one of Kennedy’s closest friends in the Senate. “He’s doing great.

“He’s ready to work on this — that’s why he’s meeting with Baucus, that’s why he’s going to the White House,” Kerry added.

Kennedy has returned only once to the Senate since collapsing from a seizure at a ceremonial lunch held hours after President Obama’s inauguration.

He looked frail and was leaning on a cane when he voted last month to quash a Republican filibuster of the $787 billion economic stimulus package.

His office had pushed back the date of his expected return to Washington at least twice.

Doubts about Kennedy’s health have raised questions over whether he would be able to play a major a role in healthcare reform.

Kennedy’s appearance in Washington this week and his buoyant optimism may put some of those doubts to rest.

Baucus told The Hill that he has already begun work with Kennedy on legislation aimed at reforming the nation’s healthcare system. He said Kennedy has been able to work effectively on the issue over the phone while away from Congress.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he would like the Senate to begin action on healthcare reform before the August recess.

Reid has given Kennedy a special office a few yards from the Senate floor so that he can be close to legislative action.

Baucus said they would make enough progress to meet Reid’s August goal.

Kennedy is expected to return to Florida to continue his medical treatment.

A spokesman said the warm weather is better for his medical rehabilitation but declined to confirm that Kennedy would return to Florida instead of some other warm-weather location, citing privacy concerns.