Rep. Brittany Pettersen Advocates for Proxy Voting for New Parents on House Floor

Opposition to Rule Restricting New Parents

• 🗣️ Representative Brittany Pettersen rises in strong opposition to a rule that restricts new moms and dads from performing their jobs after welcoming a new child.
• 🏛️ She highlights the challenges of being a mother and a representative, noting that Congress is not yet accessible for young families.

Personal Experience and Challenges

• 👶 Pettersen shares her personal experience, including being unable to fly near the end of her pregnancy due to safety concerns, which prevented her vote.
• ✈️ After giving birth, she faced an impossible decision at four weeks postpartum: leave her vulnerable newborn for 24/7 care or miss voting and representing her constituents.
• 😥 The decision to travel with her newborn, Sam, was terrifying, with fears of exposure to germs and the potential for deep regrets regardless of the choice made.

Call for Modernization and Support

• 🗓️ Pettersen emphasizes that in 2025, Congress has not modernized to address the unique challenges faced by members with newborns, such as those in the NICU.
• 🤝 She thanks Representative Luna and other colleagues for championing the issue and supporting efforts to pass a resolution for proxy voting.
• 📢 She urges colleagues to stand with them to kill the restrictive rule and pass a resolution allowing new parents the ability to continue representing their constituents.
• ⚖️ Pettersen states that the current situation is "anti-woman" and "anti-American," advocating for a more inclusive approach.