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Statement

Mom Leaders: Congress Must Pass and President Trump Must Sign the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

May 14, 2019
Workplace Justice

Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996

Statement from leaders of MomsRising.org, a national online and on-the-ground organization of more than 1 million mothers and their families, on the re-introduction in the U.S. House of Representatives of the bi-partisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act:

“Today’s reintroduction of the bipartisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in the U.S. House of Representatives gives lawmakers the chance to take concrete action to support moms and families, stop an insidious form of discrimination, and boost the economic security of hardworking families. Enactment of this bill should be an extremely high priority for leaders in both chambers of Congress and for the Trump administration.

“The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 needs updating. Loopholes in that 40+-year-old law result in pregnant workers being denied reasonable, medically necessary accommodations that would allow them to remain on the job during their pregnancies – a time when their families especially need their incomes. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act would close many of those loopholes, preventing employers from firing women who request a reasonable accommodation like carrying a water bottle, taking more restroom breaks, or having the option to be seated. It would require employers to make the same kind of accommodations for pregnant workers that they make for employees with disabilities. It is common-sense, badly needed legislation that would mean nobody is forced to choose between receiving a paycheck and a healthy pregnancy. Its enactment is badly needed and long overdue.”

--Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director and CEO, MomsRising

“For too many workers, becoming pregnant results in losing a job, being denied a promotion, or facing retaliation in the workplace. This kind of discrimination has dire consequences for families’ economic security because it leaves pregnant workers without their paychecks at exactly the time when they need them most. Women of color and immigrant women are overrepresented in physically demanding jobs and are especially harmed by pregnancy discrimination.

“Nobody should have to choose between their job and the health of their pregnancy, but too many pregnant workers face this impossible choice today. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act would strengthen protections against pregnancy discrimination, give pregnant workers access to the temporary accommodations they need, provide much-needed financial security to families, and make our workforce more productive. Congress must pass and President Trump must sign this common-sense bill into law. It’s right for moms, families, businesses, our economy, and our country.”

--Statement of Ruth Martin, Vice President, Workplace Justice Campaigns, MomsRising

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.