Nov. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Senator Edward Kennedy, who has brain cancer, touted health-care legislation as he returned to the U.S. Senate for this week's debate on an economic stimulus plan.

Kennedy, who underwent surgery in June on a malignant brain tumor, told reporters he expects legislation extending health- care insurance coverage to more Americans to be among President- elect Barack Obama's priorities when he takes office in January.

``I'm very hopeful that this will be a prime item on the agenda,'' Kennedy, 76, told reporters as he entered a staff meeting in the Senate Russell Office Building with his wife, Vicki, and the couple's two dogs. Lawmakers are returning to Washington this week for a post-election session to consider ways to boost the economy.

In a statement, Kennedy said he will ``continue to lay the groundwork for early action by Congress on health care'' when Obama takes office. ``We've been making real progress in our discussions about a consensus approach and I'm optimistic we'll succeed,'' the statement said.

Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, is chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which would draft such legislation.

Kennedy, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Denver where Obama received the party's presidential nomination, said in the statement that the ``prayers and good wishes'' he received from the public have ``certainly lifted my spirits as has the election of Barack Obama as our 44th president.''

To contact the reporter on this story: James Rowley at jarowley@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: November 17, 2008 13:19 EST