The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a procedural vote on Tuesday, dealing a blow to Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican leadership. The vote, which failed 206-222, centered on an effort to block a bipartisan proposal allowing new parents in Congress to vote remotely for up to 12 weeks after childbirth.

The proposal, championed by Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen of Colorado, seeks to grant proxy voting privileges to lawmakers who are recovering from childbirth or caring for newborns. Luna had garnered 218 signatures on a discharge petition to force a vote on the measure, bypassing traditional legislative hurdles set by House leadership.

In response, GOP leaders attempted to neutralize the proposal by embedding language into a procedural rule that would have nullified the discharge petition and barred similar initiatives in the future. However, this maneuver backfired when nine Republicans broke ranks and joined all 213 Democrats in opposing the rule.

Speaker Johnson has been an outspoken critic of proxy voting, arguing that it is unconstitutional and sets a dangerous precedent for congressional operations. Despite this stance, the failed vote marks a significant setback for his leadership just months after assuming the role of Speaker.

In the defeat, Johnson adjourned the House for the week, delaying further action on the proposal until at least next week. The move also derailed other GOP legislative priorities scheduled for consideration.

The bipartisan rebuke signals shifting attitudes toward workplace flexibility in Congress, particularly as younger lawmakers push for reforms that align with contemporary family dynamics. It remains unclear whether Johnson will attempt another procedural maneuver or allow a direct vote on the proposal in its current form.