Congressional Debate Over Remote Voting for New Parents Sparks Controversy
In a dramatic turn of events, the U.S. House of Representatives witnessed a significant moment as two mothers, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., and Rep. Brittany Pettersen, D-Colo., put forth a passionate effort to allow remote voting for new parents. The initiative has stirred considerable debate and halted legislative activities.
“We said don’t f*** with moms,” declared Rep. Pettersen on the Capitol steps, standing beside Rep. Luna. The two representatives have been at the forefront of a bipartisan push, advocating for a 12-week proxy voting period for House members following the birth of a child.
Rep. Luna highlighted the historic nature of their endeavor, stating, “We worked as a team. And I think that today is a pretty historical day for the entire conference in showing that the body has decided that parents deserve a voice in Washington and also to the importance of female members having a vote in Washington, D.C.”
The proposal faced initial resistance from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who avoided bringing the bill to the floor. Luna, however, collaborated with Democrats to circumvent the speaker’s authority and secure a vote.
Despite Johnson’s efforts to thwart the vote through a special rule, nine Republican representatives sided with Democrats, effectively blocking his move. The Republicans who joined the effort included Tim Burchett, Mike Lawler, Nick LaLota, Kevin Kiley, Max Miller, Greg Steube, Jeff Van Drew, and Ryan Mackenzie.
Speaker Johnson’s Response
Following the vote, Speaker Johnson expressed his disappointment, stating, “It’s a very disappointing result on the floor there. We’ll regroup and come back and we’ll have to do this again.”
The unexpected outcome disrupted the GOP’s legislative agenda for the week, which included bills aimed at restricting national injunctions and mandating proof of citizenship for voting.
Johnson argued against proxy voting, suggesting it could undermine the institution and lead to broader allowances. He remarked, “If you allow it for some situations, you’re ultimately going to have to allow it for all. And I think that destroys the deliberative nature of the body.”
Rep. Luna has voiced her frustration with her party’s leadership, claiming they employed coercive tactics to deter support for her initiative. Her disillusionment led to her resignation from the House Freedom Caucus.
In her letter to colleagues, Luna accused a faction of threatening the Speaker to block her petition unless rule changes occurred.
Rep. Pettersen, who recently became the 13th House member to give birth while serving, praised Luna as a “fierce champion on the issue,” and expressed pride in their efforts to reshape congressional norms. Holding her nine-week-old baby, Sam, she shared, “We’re changing the way that Congress works, making sure that moms and parents have a voice.”
NPR’s Claudia Grisales contributed to this report.
