Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida announced her resignation from the House Freedom Caucus on Monday, citing disagreements over a proposal aimed at allowing new parents in Congress to vote by proxy.

Luna's proposal, which is designed to accommodate new parents, was blocked by the group, leading to her decision to leave.

This resignation marks the fourth exit from the House Freedom Caucus in the past two years, underscoring significant internal divisions within this influential conservative assembly.

The divergence primarily stems from debates over family-related policy initiatives that have become contentious among Republican members.

Luna has taken steps to enforce a vote on her proxy voting measure for parents through a discharge petition.

In response, several members of the Freedom Caucus reportedly threatened to disrupt House proceedings indefinitely unless House Speaker Mike Johnson amended the rules to prevent Luna's petition from advancing.

The situation escalated further when Freedom Caucus members on the House Rules Committee attempted to link Luna's proposal to the SAVE Act, which would effectively kill the initiative.

Luna characterized these actions as an effort to misrepresent her and her supporters, labeling them as obstructionist to both the President and election integrity.

Throughout U.S. history, only a handful of mothers have served in Congress, with Luna emphasizing her proposal as a modest, family-oriented initiative.

Notably, while she has not voted by proxy herself, one member of the Freedom Caucus who opposes her measure is reported to have utilized proxy voting over 30 times.

In her resignation statement, Luna expressed disappointment in remaining part of a caucus where she perceived that operational integrity was compromised by backroom dealings that undermined core values.

She acknowledged the leadership of Chairman Harris, commending him for his gentlemanly approach during discussions regarding her proposal.

The internal conflict surrounding the Freedom Caucus reflects broader challenges faced by Republican leadership in reconciling traditional party stances with evolving family-oriented workplace policies.

Luna's exit follows previous expulsions, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who was ousted for supporting then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and Representative Warren Davidson, who endorsed a primary challenger to then-Freedom Caucus chair Bob Good.

These developments have contributed to an atmosphere of unrest within the caucus, culminating in Luna's resignation.

Luna's initiative to force a vote on her petition requires endorsement from 218 House members to progress.

As discussions continue, Speaker Johnson reportedly aims to integrate a provision into a broader Republican procedural measure that would counteract her proposed rule change.