The U.S. House of Representatives on Oct. 22 voted 276-149 to approve a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) that would expand workplace protections for the nearly 9 million employees excluded from the 2010 Break Time law who nurse their children.
“I’m pleased the House approved this business-friendly, bipartisan legislation – endorsed by leading business associations like the U.S. Chamber of Congress and the National Retail Federation – that simply provides moms with reasonable opportunities to pump in their workplace,” Rep. Herrera Beutler said.
The Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act, H.R. 3110, which Rep. Herrera Beutler cosponsored in May with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), would expand the requirement that employers provide certain accommodations to cover salaried employees and other types of workers not covered under existing law, according to the congressional record bill summary.
Further, time spent to express breast milk must be considered hours worked if the employee is also working, the summary says.
Additionally, H.R. 3110 would extend from one year to two years the available time period for such accommodations, among other provisions.
“As a mom of three young kids, I understand the challenges faced by nursing moms who also hold jobs,” said Rep. Herrera Beutler. “Making sure moms can pump at work promotes healthier families, and it’s also important to help businesses recruit and retain the workforces they need.”
“I’m proud to have worked with businesses, healthcare stakeholders and parents in successfully leading this legislation that supports moms in southwest Washington who are providing for their family’s health and financial security,” the congresswoman said.
If enacted, the measure would strengthen the 2010 Break Time law by closing the coverage gap and extending the 2010 Break Time law’s protections to cover categories of employees currently exempted from protections, such as teachers, software engineers, and nurses, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Herrera Beutler’s staff, and would provide employers clarity on when pumping time can be unpaid, as is allowed under current law.
On Monday, H.R. 3110 was received in the U.S. Senate, which in May placed the identical bill, S. 1658, on its legislative calendar for action.