Hold My Coffee...: January 2025 Edition

... Members of Congress are working to make it easier for new parents to serve!

According to the New York Times, "there is no maternity leave for members of Congress. While they can take time away from the office without sacrificing their pay, they cannot vote if they are not present at the Capitol."

Representatives Anna Paulina Luna (FL) and Brittany Pettersen (CO) have teamed up on a measure to give new parents up to 12 weeks for remote voting.

“This job is not made for young women, for working families, and it’s definitely not made for regular people," said Rep. Pettersen. “It’s historically been wealthy individuals who are not of childbearing age who do this work.”

“I’m going to choose to be home to make sure that my newborn is taken care of," she continued, "but I feel that it’s unfair that I’m unable to have my constituents represented at that time.” 

"I don’t think any member should be precluded from doing the job they were elected to do simply because they become a parent," said Rep. Mike Lawler (NY), whose youngest child is 2 months old.

And since we know you're busy, here are our top picks for other "must reads" this month!

• For the woman who enjoys new discoveries, new Pew research shows that, while men and women seem to report similar amounts of loneliness, men turn to their networks less often than women for social connection and emotional support, and that men are catching up to women in hours spent on household chores because of cooking.  
• For the woman who turns to Google first, the New York Times examined why lack of funding and appreciation for women's health may lead women to less traditional medicine.
• For the woman who wants to Remember the Ladies, check out our monthly feature on key moments in women's representation and rights in the past during the month of January.

Click here to read the January 2025 WPLN Newsletter.