Should proxy voting be allowed for new parents who are members of Congress?

Government Operations (e.g., Election Laws)
Proxy Voting for New Parents Resolution (H.Res. 23)
Awaiting Vote
Bill Summary

The resolution seeks to update House procedures by allowing members who have recently become parents to vote by proxy/remotely for up to 12 weeks. Eligibility is for members who have given birth, whose spouse has given birth, or pregnant members who cannot travel due to serious medical issues. If placed into governance, members must go through a designation process where they must submit a signed and dated letter to the Clerk, specifying the circumstances and the designated proxy. The designated proxy may cast votes in committees, the Committee of the Whole, and the House floor. One exception is that the proxy vote does not count when establishing a quorum. The member using a proxy can end it by showing up and voting, recording their presence, or sending signed letters. Proponents believe this bill can reflect modernized work practices where parental leave and flexibility are standard, and furthermore, can help women in Congress who face inequitable pressure to return to work quickly after childbirth. However, opponents argue that this resolution is unconstitutional and can be misused in the future, setting a bad precedent for Congress. Sponsor: Rep. Brittany Pettersen (Democrat, Colorado, District 7)
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Opponents say

•      "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 agenda has been taken off the table…[allowing proxy voting] would do great violence to the institution to reopen Pandora's box. 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." Source: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson


Proponents say

•    "Today, we noticed our intent to discharge to force a vote on our bipartisan resolution to allow parents to vote while they are taking care of their newborn child…Speaker Johnson has gone to historic lengths to stifle our voices – even after we followed the rules and collected 218 signatures on our discharge petition to force a vote. This move is anti-woman, anti-family, and anti-parent. While Republican Leadership is out of touch on this issue, there is a large majority of Members in Congress who want to change the way we do things. Thanks to all my colleagues who stood with us. We know our fight is far from over, and I promise to keep working alongside you to make Congress more accessible for young families and regular people." Source: Rep. Brittany Pettersen (Democrat, Colorado, District 7)


•      "The American people are desperate for change – and one of the best places to start is by who represents them in Washington…That’s why I’m so proud that we’ve forced a vote on our bipartisan resolution to allow parental leave for Members of Congress. Once passed, this will be a green light for more young people, more parents, and more soon-to-be parents to serve in this institution and pave the way for more pro-family policies. We have a long way to go to make the House more inclusive, accessible, and welcoming, but this is an amazing step forward…No Member of Congress should have to choose between caring for their newborn and representing their constituents…While Speaker Johnson decided to not move forward with our resolution – despite bipartisan support – we refused to back down. I’m so grateful for all the people who stepped up and helped us get one step closer to modernizing Congress. Sam is only 6 weeks old, but he got to be a part of changing hearts and minds and addressing a barrier that prevents regular people from serving in Congress."  Source: Rep. Sara Jacobs (Democrat, California, District 51)


•      "I support this bipartisan effort to stop forcing parents to choose between caring for their children and representing their constituents…This resolution is a simple, commonsense step toward making Congress more accessible and family-friendly and would help increase the representation of parents with young children, which is a voice that is needed in the halls of Congress more than ever. I will continue to push for proxy voting that allows parents to care for their families because it’s shown to improve child health and promote parent engagement, and it would lead to a Congress that is more representative of our country."  Source: Dads Caucus Chairman Jimmy Gomez (Democrat, California, District 34)

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