Westerman Calls for Ending Proxy Voting

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) led congressional Republicans in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, requesting she cease all remote voting and hearing measures in the 117th Congress. In part, the members wrote:

"We write today to request that you cease all proxy voting measures in the House of Representatives for the upcoming 117th Congress. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives and work of many – including members of Congress. We all have had to adjust our travel and practices out of precaution for the virus, but now it is time to lead by example and fully return to work to serve the American people. Now that members and essential congressional staff have access to the vaccine, the unconstitutional decision to allow members to vote by proxy should not continue in the upcoming Congress…

"We are pleased to see the continued results of Operation Warp Speed and the reality that multiple vaccines have been given Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and are being distributed to millions of Americans, including members of Congress. In fact, per continuity of government purposes, the Office of the Attending Physician has urged all members and certain essential Capitol personnel to receive the vaccine. We understand that some members are electing to wait for the vaccine to be more readily available to others before receiving it themselves, but with many members receiving the vaccinations, and more than 50 others already having antibodies, Congress is well on its way to herd immunity. We must lead by example, follow the science and safely return to work in Washington."

Read the full letter here.

The letter had 23 signatories: U.S. Reps. Jody Hice (R-Ga.), Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.), Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), David Rouzer (R-N.C.), French Hill (R-Ark.), Peter King (R-N.Y.), Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.), Gary Palmer (R-Ala.), Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), John Rutherford (R-Fla.), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Ben Cline (R-Va.), Garret Graves (R-La.), Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), Trey Hollingsworth (R-Ind.) and Earl "Buddy" Carter (R-Ga.).