Overview

• Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has secured 218 signatures for a discharge petition, forcing a House vote on proxy voting for new parents.
• The resolution, co-sponsored by Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen, would allow lawmakers to vote remotely for up to 12 weeks after childbirth or in cases of medical need.
• Speaker Mike Johnson opposes the measure, arguing it violates congressional tradition and raises constitutional issues, despite his own past use of proxy voting during the pandemic.
• Intraparty tensions have escalated, with some members of the House Freedom Caucus opposing the resolution and Luna threatening to stall legislative business if the measure is blocked.
• The resolution has bipartisan support, with 12 Republicans joining Democrats, and its passage could set a precedent for accommodating lawmakers with young families.