{"id":2388602,"date":"2025-01-09T21:52:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-10T02:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bipartisan-house-lawmakers-renew-push-for-new-parent-proxy-voting-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-09T21:54:09","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T02:54:09","slug":"bipartisan-house-lawmakers-renew-push-for-new-parent-proxy-voting-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bipartisan-house-lawmakers-renew-push-for-new-parent-proxy-voting-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Bipartisan House lawmakers renew push for new parent proxy voting &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbipartisan-house-lawmakers-renew-push-for-new-parent-proxy-voting-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2388602&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A\u2064 bipartisan group of House lawmakers is advocating for a reconsideration of rules to allow proxy voting for new parents\u200d in\u2062 Congress. This initiative, led by \u200brepresentatives brittany Pettersen (D-CO),\u2063 Anna Paulina Luna \u200d(R-FL), Sara jacobs (D-CA), adn \u2062Mike\u2062 Lawler (R-NY), aims to\u200c make legislative duties more accessible to women\u2063 and young parents. \u2062The proposed legislation would permit members to designate another member as a proxy\u2062 for voting from the\u200c birth of \u200ctheir child up to \u200b12\u200d weeks afterward, or longer if health complications arise. Pettersen emphasized \u2064the importance of representation reflecting the life \u2063experiences \u200bof American citizens.<\/p>\n<p>The push\u200b for this \u2062proxy voting\u200b reform is notable for its bipartisan support, especially as new parents in\u200b Congress\u2063 encounter challenges \u200bin\u200b fulfilling \u200ctheir \u200bresponsibilities \u2064due\u200d to family obligations. \u2064The movement gains \u200dsignificance as Pettersen\u200d prepares to\u2064 become one of \u2062the few \u2064members to give birth\u2063 while serving, and Luna, who \u200dfaced complications post-delivery, had previously struggled to participate in\u2062 critical votes.This proposal comes after\u2062 the House previously discontinued a pandemic-era \u200bproxy voting policy that allowed \u200dmembers to vote remotely \u2064during 2021 and 2022, a \u200dmove that was against\u200d the wishes of former Speaker kevin McCarthy.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Bipartisan group of House lawmakers renew pushes for new parent proxy voting<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1931296\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A bipartisan group of <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-of-representatives\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">House<\/a> lawmakers is pushing to amend the chamber rules to allow proxy voting for members who are new parents, renewing an initiative from last Congress that <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-republicans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Republican<\/a> leadership declined to pursue.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Reps. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/anna-paulina-luna\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Anna Paulina Luna<\/a> (R-FL), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), and Mike Lawler (R-NY) introduced a resolution on Thursday that would seek to make Congress &ldquo;more accessible to women and young parents&rdquo; and reflect the &ldquo;life experiences of the people it serves.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Under the new <a href=\"https:\/\/pettersen.house.gov\/uploadedfiles\/proxyvotingresolution.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">legislation<\/a>, members would be able to designate another member as a proxy beginning on the date of the birth and terminating 12 weeks after. If a member is told by a healthcare provider that there is a danger of complications or inability to travel safely, that member can vote by proxy for 12 weeks after the initial designation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our government works best when the life experiences of the American people are represented,&rdquo; Pettersen said in a statement. &ldquo;Enabling new parents to vote by proxy while they spend time recovering and taking care of their newborn baby is an important step in modernizing Congress and addressing one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">significant barriers young parents face<\/a> to serving.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The new parent proxy voting movement is one of the few areas that draws rare bipartisan support from both sides of the aisle.<\/p>\n<p>Pettersen will soon be just the 14th member to give birth while serving in Congress. Luna, who was a new mother at the beginning of the 118th Congress, experienced several complications after giving birth to her son, who is frequently seen with his mother throughout the House hallways.<\/p>\n<p>Because of her health matters, and the lack of rules for proxy voting, Luna was unable to attend sessions and vote &mdash; critical during a period of spending fights and just after the historic ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) holds her baby as Republicans try to elect Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), a top Donald Trump ally, to be the new House speaker, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Thursday&rsquo;s bipartisan proposal comes almost two years after House Republicans nixed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/170k-illegals-amass-at-border-in-anticipation-of-biden-further-easing-border-restrictions\/\" title=\"170k Illegals Amass at Border in Anticipation of Biden Further Easing Border Restrictions\">pandemic-era measure<\/a> that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kevin-mccarthy-torches-nancy-pelosi-backed-proxy-voting-rule\/\" title=\"Kevin McCarthy Torches Nancy Pelosi-Backed Proxy Voting Rule\">allowed proxy voting<\/a> for members of the House during 2021 and 2022. McCarthy himself was anti-proxy voting and pushed for the end of the measure after the 2022 midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;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,&rdquo; Luna said. &ldquo;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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In November, Luna announced that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who was elected to succeed McCarthy, <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/rachel_schilke\/status\/1859313463308451908\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">would not support her push<\/a> for new parent proxy voting. This came after the four lawmakers led 12 others in sending a <a href=\"https:\/\/pettersen.house.gov\/uploadedfiles\/letter_to_speaker_johnson_re._parental_proxy_voting.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">letter<\/a> to Johnson urging for proxy voting to come under the 119th Congress rules package.<\/p>\n<p>That bill, which passed on Friday, did <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3275586\/house-passes-rule-change-harder-oust-johnson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">not include<\/a> proxy voting.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This is not only anti-family but is also a slap in the face to the hundreds of thousands of voters who send members to represent them in D.C.,&rdquo; Luna said at the time.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to Johnson for comment on whether he would support Thursday&rsquo;s renewed effort.<\/p>\n<p>Jacobs, who supported Luna&rsquo;s first piece of legislation last year, froze her eggs in preparation to serve in Congress. She said Thursday she delayed starting a family because of the demands and travel that came with being a U.S. lawmaker.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s why I&rsquo;m so proud to be a part of this bipartisan coalition to give Members of Congress parental leave after giving birth so they don&rsquo;t have to choose between their family and their jobs,&rdquo; Jacobs said. &ldquo;This is a small but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-omar-act-seeks-to-stop-lawmakers-from-enriching-spouses\/\" title=\"Republicans\u2019 \u2018OMAR Act\u2019 Seeks To Stop Lawmakers From Enriching Spouses\">important step forward<\/a> to make our government more representative of our country and ultimately pass policies that help families make ends meet and thrive.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Members who wished to vote by proxy would need to provide the House clerk an affirmative statement of the birth of the child or the existence of a medical condition, as well as the name of the member who will cast a vote for the new parent.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Female members are not the only supporters of this legislation. Lawler is an original sponsor, with five of the eight co-sponsors including male members: Reps. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), and Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ). The other co-sponsors are Reps. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), and Young Kim (R-CA).<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Becoming a parent is one of the great joys in life, and it shouldn&rsquo;t prevent members of Congress from being able to vote on critical legislation impacting their district,&rdquo; Lawler said. &ldquo;As the father of two young girls, I know how important it is to be with your children in those first few weeks.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1931296\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1931296\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bipartisan lawmakers advocate for proxy voting for new parents<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2388605,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/AP23290648930221.jpg.optimal.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[3667,40760,48239,38422],"class_list":["post-2388602","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-bipartisan","tag-house-lawmakers","tag-new-parents","tag-proxy-voting"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/AP23290648930221.jpg.optimal.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2388602","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2388602"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2388602\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2388607,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2388602\/revisions\/2388607"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2388605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2388602"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2388602"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2388602"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}