Colorado Congresswoman Brings Newborn to D.C. to Vote Against GOP Budget

Rep. Brittany Pettersen interrupted her maternity leave to cast a critical vote, highlighting the challenges faced by working mothers in Congress.

Rep. Brittany Pettersen traveled from Colorado to Washington, D.C., with her 4-week-old son to vote on a Republican budget proposal.
Pettersen, recovering from childbirth, was unable to vote remotely due to the discontinuation of proxy voting in 2022.
The GOP budget narrowly passed 217-215, despite Pettersen's efforts to oppose it on behalf of her constituents.
Pettersen and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna are advocating for bipartisan legislation to allow remote voting for new parents during maternity or paternity leave.
Colleagues provided support during her trip, but Pettersen described the experience as exhausting, reflecting broader challenges faced by working mothers.