Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.), who’s at the moment pregnant, is urging fellow lawmakers to assist her in a bid to permit proxy voting for members of Congress who’re new dad and mom below the Guidelines of the Home for the 119th Congress.
Pettersen is slated to turn out to be the 14th Member – and the primary from Colorado – to present start whereas serving in Congress.
“Today marks the first day I am unable to fly to DC for votes due to travel restrictions ahead of my due date,” Pettersen wrote in a Monday assertion on X.
“It shouldn’t be this way. Congress must pass my bipartisan resolution to allow Members who are new parents to vote remotely.”
Pettetsen been selling her bipartisan decision alongside Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.), and Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.).
Luna authored the same invoice within the final legislative cycle after having a toddler in workplace. The 2 stated the present Home Voting Guidelines forestall new dad and mom from serving and supporting their rising households.
“No parent should have to choose between caring for their child, or recovering from childbirth, and fulfilling their duties in Congress to represent their constituents,” Luna stated in a press release. “Congress needs to get with the times. This bipartisan proposal is vital in promoting a pro-family Washington, where every American has a voice and the unwavering representation they deserve.”
Proxy voting was briefly allowed below former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) throughout the COVID-19 pandemic however was broadly criticized by Republicans who stated voting norms should stick.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) stated some officers used proxy voting to attend fundraisers or go on holidays.
Previous to the pandemic, Pelosi denied Rep. Tammy Duckworth’s request to be excused from in-person voting as a consequence of comparable considerations in 2014. The late Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) each spoke in favor of proxy voting on behalf of the veteran.
Now, greater than a decade later, Duckworth who’s now a Senator, recalled the battle for brand new dad and mom throughout her feedback on the International Relations Committee listening to by thanking Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio (R his assist throughout the difficult time.
“I want to thank you for that kindness because you did speak to your leadership about it. It was a moment of true bipartisanship but also as parents and as someone who was new to the Senate, I was extremely grateful to you for that kindness,” she famous.
