A Colorado Democratic Representative made headlines this week by bringing her four-week-old son to the House floor to cast her vote, highlighting ongoing challenges faced by lawmakers with young families.
Rep. Brittany Pettersen traveled across the country with her newborn to vote on a major budget deal after being denied the ability to vote remotely. "I wasn't going to let that stop me from representing my constituents," Pettersen stated.
The incident has reignited debate about proxy voting policies in Congress. While temporarily allowed during the pandemic, proxy voting - where legislators can designate another member to vote on their behalf - was eliminated when Republicans took House control in 2023.
Pettersen, along with Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna who also gave birth in 2023, is leading bipartisan efforts to reinstate proxy voting for new parents. Their proposed legislation would allow up to 12 weeks of proxy voting for members who have given birth, whose spouses have given birth, or who face pregnancy-related medical restrictions.
The bill has gained 137 bipartisan co-sponsors, but faces resistance from House leadership. Speaker Mike Johnson expressed sympathy but maintained the practice conflicts with constitutional requirements, stating "that's the inescapable truth."
Luna, who missed 137 votes while recovering from a difficult birth, called the current policy "discriminatory" and argued that "new mothers in Congress should not be forced to choose their careers over children."
Jean Sinzdak from the Center for American Women and Politics suggests the resistance partly stems from Congress's leadership demographics, noting that older male leaders may not prioritize young families' needs.
While the UK Parliament has adopted proxy voting for new parents and those requiring fertility treatment, similar accommodations remain unavailable in the US House. Pettersen and Luna continue pushing for change through alternative legislative pathways, though success appears challenging under current leadership.
Pettersen is the 14th member of Congress to give birth while serving in office, highlighting evolving needs for institutional adaptation to support working parents in national leadership roles.