It is not one thing you see every single day at congressional listening to on the economic system and rates of interest.
As members of Congress grilled Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday — one lawmaker requested questions together with her tousled-haired 5-month-old child squirming in her lap.
Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen introduced her son Sam to the listening to and someway was capable of hold him quiet whereas she questioned Powell about financial coverage.
Pettersen, who has not shied away from together with her son as part of her official Capitol Hill duties, requested Powell in regards to the nationwide debt as Sam — wearing a yellow onesie — appeared lower than .
At one level, Powell requested Pettersen to repeat one in all her questions.
“I am going to do that one of the best I can with Sam right here,” the Colorado Democrat responded with fun.
Rep. Brittany Pettersen holds her son Sam whereas questioning Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell throughout a listening to of the Home Committee on Monetary Companies on Capitol Hill, June 24, 2025, in Washington.
Home Committee on Monetary Companies
On the finish of Pettersen’s allotted time for questions, Powell thanked her — and acknowledged her tiny tagalong, with, “and thanks, Sam.”
Whereas it was not Sam’s first House hearing — that was in April — infants and younger youngsters are hardly commonplace within the Capitol.
“Rep. Pettersen is on the waitlist for little one care like most Individuals. And like all mothers, she finds a approach to make it work,” Pettersen’s Communications Director Meg MacLaren stated of Sam’s look on the listening to Tuesday.
Earlier this 12 months, Pettersen held then-9-week-old Sam throughout a passionate speech on the House floor. She returned early from day without work to talk in help of a bipartisan effort to permit proxy voting for lawmakers who, like her, are new mother and father.
“I feel that we are able to accommodate for the brand new office challenges right here in Congress to verify extra ladies and younger households might be represented right here now,” she stated as Sam cooed and squealed in her arms.
The measure failed within the Home in April, however Pettersen has continued to push for parental privileges for members of Congress — saying “Congress was not made for girls” in a post on X in April.
Pettersen is just the thirteenth Home member to provide beginning whereas in Congress.
“That is not as a result of mothers do not belong — this place wasn’t constructed for us,” she wrote in a post on X.
