Arkansas Sen. John Boozman returned to work for the first time on Monday after undergoing emergency surgery back in April. He revealed that he still plans on running for re-election in two years.

As previously reported, he underwent emergency heart surgery in late April due to what was later revealed to be an acute aortic dissection.

He felt ill ahead of several meetings and had to be taken to the hospital for the operation. His spokeswoman Sara Lasure said in a statement, "The senator is responding well to the surgery."

On Monday, Boozman spoke with The Associated Press and said that he still intends on running for a second term in the Senate. "I'm planning on running, very definitely," the freshman senator revealed.

"I think because of the fact I've come through this so well, not only will I have a full recovery but these things really do make you take a little better care of yourself."

Boozman said that it took several weeks before he was recovered enough that he could begin sitting up on his own. He said now that he is back, he will look to focus his attention on the Veterans Affairs system. The senator currently is a member of the Senate VA Committee.