WASHINGTON — On Capitol Hill, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is seeking to allow new moms in the House of Representatives permission to vote remotely after giving birth. The effort is being spearheaded by Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, who welcomed a son over the summer. 

What You Need To Know

  •  Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has introduced a resolution to allow House members who give birth to vote by proxy for up to six weeks. 

  •  The measure is backed by both Republicans and Democrats

  • Luna hopes it will "encourage people to have families" 

Luna held a press conference Thursday for her bipartisan resolution to allow House members “to vote by proxy for up to six weeks after their baby arrives.” 

"This place is completely out of touch with average-day Americans," Luna said. "And in passing this legislation, it is the first step forward in the right direction to, I think, not just giving mothers a seat at the table, but also to encourage people to have families."

Luna spoke with Spectrum News in November about her idea for the proposal after a physically challenging pregnancy, when, due to House rules, she was not allowed to vote remotely. She’s the 12th member in the history of Congress to give birth while in office. 

"As much as I tried to get back here early, I physically was not able to, and I was actually advised by doctors to not travel," Luna told reporters Thursday. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the House was controlled by Democrats, the chamber temporarily allowed proxy voting for all members. But, it was ended under former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy after Republicans gained a narrow majority in the House.

While Republicans have largely been against proxy voting, Luna's just-released resolution has the backing of about two-dozen colleagues on both sides of the aisle. 

"I'm not in favor of proxy voting in general. I opposed it. I never did it. Friends called me to ask me to proxy vote for them, and I wouldn't do it. And, mainly because I think members abused the practice during COVID. They used to go to fundraisers, they used to go on vacation. I mean, just fake things, but you can't fake a pregnancy. This is a different situation," said GOP Congressman Tim Burchett of Tennessee. 

"Congress is getting younger, right? And the idea that there are young people out there, young women out there considering running for Congress, this is definitely a barrier to that," said Democratic Congressman Jared Moskowitz.