Lawmakers on Capitol Hill face increasing risks due to health scares and violent threats.

Like ordinary people, members of Congress are vulnerable and made of flesh and bone.

In recent days, a series of unconnected events has highlighted the vulnerabilities of those working on Capitol Hill, as three well-known Congressional figures have been affected by health scares.

Last week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., sustained injuries during the weekly Senate lunch and was later evaluated by DC Fire and Rescue. He was initially cleared to resume his schedule, but did not appear at the Capitol later in the week and his office stated that he was working from home.

In 2019, McConnell suffered a concussion after falling at a hotel and was out for two months. He also froze up at several news conferences in both Washington and Kentucky.

McConnell, the longest-serving leader of either party in Senate history, steps down as the top Republican in the Senate in early January, but will remain in the chamber.

McConnell was absent from the final Senate GOP leadership news conference of the year on Tuesday, as well as a ceremony with other top bipartisan, bicameral Congressional leaders to light the Capitol menorah for Hanukkah.

McConnell isn’t the only prominent lawmaker to stumble lately.

Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker from California, was hospitalized in Germany after a fall that required her hip to be replaced. She was there with other lawmakers for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge.

"I was close to her," said House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas. "She often wears high heels. Very high. She was near the end of a marble staircase without a railing, and she slipped and fell to the ground."

McCaul later said he spoke to Pelosi on the phone.

McCaul described the former Speaker as having a lot of energy and being very spunky.

Since 2003, Barry Black, a retired rear admiral, has served as Senate Chaplain. Despite not being a senator, his commanding bass voice is more well-known than many senators. Last week, Black suffered a subdural hematoma and bleeding on the brain and was hospitalized.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., praised Chaplain Black as one of the most beloved individuals in the Senate, stating that he always starts off each session with prayer, delivered with his profound sense of wisdom, grace, and eloquence.

Black's words are more resonant than his powerful vocal instrument. He skillfully incorporates gentle, pastoral advice into his daily prayers. In 2019, he prayed that senators would not let exhaustion or skepticism endanger their friendships during the impeachment trial of President-elect Trump.

Despite the U.S. Capitol Police being injured during a wild car chase and shootout during the 2013 government shutdown, Black gently chided senators who shuttered the government.

Black prayed to be freed from the insincerity of appearing reasonable while behaving unreasonably.

Perhaps the most unreasonable thing heard over the past week came from U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger, who stated that there's not a lot which is reasonable on Capitol Hill.

In November, Manger informed a Senate committee that his department recorded 700 individual threats of violence and 55 "swatting" calls against lawmakers.

The act of making a false distress call with the intention of causing alarm or fear is known as "swatting." When this occurs, law enforcement agencies typically respond with a "SWAT" team, which can result in the intended targets being unnerved.

"Manger testified to the Senate Rules Committee that if you knew when you went home, you could relax a little, but those days are gone."

On Thanksgiving Day, the entire Connecticut House and Senate delegation received threats.

Some lawmakers face more problems than others.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga, lamented that she may hold the record for swatting calls.

And these faux threats sometimes result in utter calamity for innocent bystanders.

David Metroka, a bomb squad member from Rome, Ga., was in a hurry to meet his team at Greene's house when he collided with a car driven by Tammie Pickelsimer. Tragically, she passed away at the hospital following the accident.

The threat to Greene's residence was not happening in real-time. It was emailed to local police and ended up in a spam folder. Officers discovered the message several days later and called in the bomb squad.

How do lawmakers protect themselves in such a supercharged environment?

"Greene stated, "I am a gun owner, and it is crucial to be able to defend myself.""

Recent Congressional history has seen some of the most tragic and chaotic moments, including the January 6th insurrection, the shooting of former Reps. Gabrielle Giffords and Ron Barber, and the Congressional baseball practice shooting that nearly killed House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.

A recent cold-blooded assassination in Midtown Manhattan spooked everyone who works on Capitol Hill, especially lawmakers who have been targeted before.

"Rep. Richie Torres, D-N.Y., expressed concern that some public figures have been silent or close to justifying the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. He stated that if society accepts the idea that political differences can be resolved through violence, it would mark the end of civilization."

Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Ohio, stated that the worst part of the situation was seeing people's reactions and support for the murderer.

At some point, the threats may be too much for lawmakers.

Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., stated that they are not putting themselves or their families in danger.

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., has served in Congress since 1997.

"The amount of disdain and animosity has increased," said Smith. "As a freshman, I never imagined that I was at a higher risk of physical harm due to being a member of Congress than any other person on the street."

But that’s the reality of Congress.

And everyone is vulnerable.