(The Center Square) – Colorado U.S. Rep. Brittany Petterson is advocating for changes to allow House members to vote remotely while on parental leave.
The initiative, which would require passage of a resolution, has received bipartisan support from members of Congress.
“Due to outdated House rules, members must be physically present to vote – even while they recover from giving birth and care for their newborn,” Petterson said. “It’s unreasonable that the House refuses to make any accommodations for new parents. That’s why I am working to update these rules and ensure members who are new parents don’t have to choose between serving their constituents and caring for their newborn during a critical time.”
Currently, no proxy voting is allowed in the House. This was a Republican response to its expansion over the course of the COVID pandemic, which both political sides have acknowledged was abused at times.
Petterson’s resolution would change the House rules to permit “parental remote voting by proxy,” which is when a House member designates another representative to vote on their behalf in their absence.
It would allow members who are new parents, both mothers and fathers, to vote by proxy for up to 12 weeks under the House Rules, excluding proxy votes from establishing a quorum. It would also allow pregnant members to proxy vote if a pregnancy-related medical condition prevents travel. Time spent proxy voting pre-birth would count against the 12-week limit for parental leave.
The resolution has received support from a number of Republicans, who have joined in co-sponsoring it. One of those is U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-FL.
“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,” said Luna. “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.”
But Republican U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has openly criticized proxy voting.
“I’ve filed a brief with the United States Supreme Court asserting that proxy voting is unconstitutional,” Johnson said. “I have great sympathy, empathy for all of our young women legislators who are of birthing age. It’s a real quandary. But I’m afraid it doesn’t fit with the language of the Constitution, and that’s the inescapable truth that we have.”
