Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. McBATH. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for bringing this vital legislation to the floor.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act will ensure that no woman is unfairly fired or forced to risk the health of themselves or their pregnancy just to earn a paycheck. Our mothers deserve these Federal protections.

We want all to support our working mothers. Allowing them simple accommodations can ensure that they are able to continue working and provide a living for themselves and for their families.

Twenty-seven States have already passed laws that require certain employers to provide accommodations to pregnant women. It is time for federal action to ensure that all pregnant women are protected from discrimination and continue to support their families. This legislation is supported by both women's health groups and the business community.

I have here a letter from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce voicing strong support for this legislation, and I submit this letter for the Record. Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, September 14, 2020.

To the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly supports H.R. 2694, the ``Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA).'' As reported by the Committee on Education and Labor, this bipartisan compromise would protect the interests of both pregnant employees and their employers. The Chamber will consider including votes on this legislation in our How They Voted scorecard.

Employers currently face great uncertainty about whether, and how, they are required to accommodate pregnant workers. The revised PWFA would clarify an employer's obligation to accommodate a pregnant employee or applicant with a known limitation that interferes with her ability to perform some essential functions of her position.

The PWFA takes advantage of the widely known and accepted interactive process associated with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that is used to find reasonable accommodations for employees covered by the ADA, and also carries forward the 15-or-more-employee threshold from the ADA.

The Chamber worked extensively with advocates for this bill to find bipartisan agreement. This important bill is a reminder that through good faith negotiations, legislative solutions to important questions and problems can be achieved. We urge the House to pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Sincerely, Jack Howard.

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