Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.), who is currently pregnant, is calling on her colleagues to support new parents to vote by proxy under House rules for the 119th Congress. There is.
Pettersen will be the 14th lawmaker to give birth while serving in Congress, and the first from Colorado.
“Today marks the first day that travel restrictions will prevent you from traveling to Washington, D.C., to vote before the deadline,” Pettersen said in a statement Monday. ×.
“This shouldn't be this way. Congress must pass my bipartisan resolution to allow new parents to vote remotely.”
Pettessen is co-sponsoring the bipartisan resolution with Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), Rep. Sarah Jacobs (D-Calif.) and Rep. Mike Lawler (New York).
Luna drafted a similar bill last legislative cycle after giving birth to her child. They said current House voting rules prevent new parents from serving and supporting growing families.
“Parents should not have to choose between caring for their children, recovering from childbirth, and fulfilling their duties in Congress on behalf of their constituents,” Luna said in a statement. “Congress must keep up with the times. This bipartisan proposal is critical to promoting a pro-family Washington, where all Americans have a voice and the unwavering representation they deserve.” .”
Proxy voting was temporarily allowed during the coronavirus pandemic under former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), but Republicans say voting norms should be maintained. It was widely criticized.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said some officials used proxy voting to attend fundraisers or go on vacation.
Before the pandemic, Pelosi had rejected a request by U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth to exempt in-person voting in 2014 over similar concerns. The late Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi) both spoke. Supports proxy voting on behalf of veterans.
More than a decade later, Duckworth, now a senator, recalled the battle for new parents in comments at a Foreign Relations Committee hearing. appreciate Secretary of State candidate Marco Rubio (R) for his support during difficult times.
“You spoke to your leaders about that and I want to thank you for your kindness. It was a true bipartisan bonding moment, but also as a parent and as a first-time senator. , I was very grateful for that generosity,” she said.
