House approves bill introduced by Upton, Katko to protect pregnant workers

The U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 17 passed a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and Fred Upton (R-MI) that aims to protect pregnant Americans from workplace discrimination.

“Simply put, no mother or mother-to-be in this country should have to choose between being a parent and keeping their job,” Rep. Katko said. “Unfortunately, current federal law lacks adequate protections to ensure pregnant workers are able to remain healthy in the workplace.”

The House voted 329-73 to approve the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, H.R. 2694, which Rep. Katko and Upton cosponsored to prohibit employment practices that discriminate against making reasonable accommodations for job applicants or employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, according to the congressional record bill summary. The U.S. Senate received the bill on Sept. 17 and referred it to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for consideration.

“This commonsense bill makes it abundantly clear to pregnant workers and employers what is expected in order to keep the workplace safe,” Rep. Upton said. “I hope to see it passed quickly through the U.S. Senate.”

If enacted, H.R. 2694, which is closely modeled after the Americans with Disabilities Act, would require employers to make reasonable accommodations — such as a minor job modification — that would allow pregnant workers to continue working and prevent them from being forced out on leave or out of their jobs, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers. 

“All workers should have the protections needed to stay safe in their workplace, but unfortunately for too many pregnant women, those protections just aren’t there,” Rep. Upton said. “Working and staying safe are not mutually exclusive. Accommodations that are necessary but sometimes denied… limit the ability for a pregnant woman to maintain a healthy pregnancy and still work.”

“This bipartisan bill provides pregnant workers with an affirmative right to reasonable accommodations in the workplace, while creating a clear and navigable standard for employers to follow,” added Rep. Katko.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is supported by 180 civil rights and women’s advocacy organizations, health organizations, unions, and business associations.