Sen. Kennedy returns to work after June surgery

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, battling a life-threatening brain tumor, returned to the Senate on Monday for the first time since July and pledged to work next year to expand health care for all Americans.

The Massachusetts Democrat met with his staff at the start of what's supposed to be a post-election session of about a week before Congress wraps up its work for the year.

In a statement, Kennedy said he will "continue to lay the ground work for early action by Congress on health reform when President (Barack) Obama takes office in January. We've been making real progress in our discussions about a consensus approach and I'm optimistic we'll succeed."

Democrats are hoping to pass legislation that would greatly expand health care for the uninsured.

Kennedy, 76, had surgery on June 2 after being diagnosed with a type of malignant brain tumor that typically kills within three years.

The brother of slain President John Kennedy made a brief, dramatic return to the Senate on July 9 to cast a key vote that led to passage of a Medicare bill opposed by the Bush administration.

In August, Kennedy, who backed Obama in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, addressed his party's convention in Denver the week Obama became the nominee.

On Monday, expressing his thanks for the good wishes he has received since becoming ill, Kennedy said, "They have certainly lifted my spirits, as has the election of Barack Obama as our 44th president."

(Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Bill Trott)