Just four weeks after giving birth to her second child, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen cast a critical vote in the House of Representatives while cradling her baby son. The Colorado Democrat traveled across the country to oppose a major budget deal, which narrowly passed, after being unable to vote remotely due to current congressional rules.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t given the opportunity to vote remotely after giving birth, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me from representing my constituents,” Pettersen said on Tuesday.
Pettersen, the 14th lawmaker to give birth while in office, is now leading a bipartisan effort to push for more flexibility for lawmakers with growing families. In January, she introduced legislation that would allow proxy voting for up to 12 weeks for members who have recently given birth, or whose spouses have, as well as for pregnant members unable to travel or facing serious medical issues. The bill has gained 137 bipartisan co-sponsors.
Proxy voting, which allows a lawmaker to designate someone else to vote on their behalf, was temporarily permitted during the pandemic. However, current House rules prohibit the practice, which some believe could offer important benefits for lawmakers recovering from childbirth or illness. Critics, however, argued that proxy voting was being misused.
Over 100 Republican House members, including Speaker Mike Johnson, filed a lawsuit to end the practice, calling it unconstitutional. Although the legal challenge failed, when Republicans took control of the House in 2023, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy ended the practice.
Pettersen is not alone in her push for more parental flexibility. Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, gave birth in 2023 and missed 137 votes due to complications from her delivery. Doctors had advised her against traveling. She criticized the ban on proxy voting, calling it “a slap in the face to every constituent” who elected her.
“How is it not discriminatory to tell a duly elected member of Congress that she can’t vote because she gave birth?” Luna asked in a video statement. “New mothers in Congress should not be forced to choose their careers over children or choose children over careers.”
However, Republican leadership has yet to change their stance. Speaker Johnson expressed sympathy for young lawmakers facing these challenges but argued that proxy voting does not align with the Constitution.
Jean Sinzdak, associate director at the Center for American Women and Politics, noted that part of the resistance is cultural, with many institutional leaders being older men who don’t directly face the challenges of young parents.
“Many of the leaders of these institutions are not concerned about the trials of young parents and families,” Sinzdak told the BBC.
The UK Parliament allows proxy voting for new parents and those facing childbirth complications, while the European Parliament currently has no provisions for pregnant members who can’t travel to their office.
Pettersen and Luna are now trying to bypass Speaker Johnson and bring the legislation to a floor vote. While the path is difficult, it may be their best option unless the policy surrounding proxy voting changes.
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