[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 200 (Thursday, December 22, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S10081]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PREGNANT WORKERS FAIRNESS ACT
Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, the purpose of the Pregnant Workers
Fairness Act is to help pregnant mothers in the workplace receive
accommodations so that they can maintain a healthy pregnancy and
childbirth. Therefore, I want to make clear for the record that the
terms ``pregnancy'' and ``related medical conditions,'' for which
accommodations to their known limitations are required under the
legislation, do not include abortion.
On December 8, the sponsor of this legislation, Senator Bob Casey
stated on the Senate floor as follows: ``I want to say for the record,
however, that under the act, under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act,
the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, the EEOC, could not--could
not--issue any regulation that requires abortion leave, nor does the
act permit the EEOC to require employers to provide abortions in
violation of State law.''
Senator Casey's statement reflects the intent of Congress in
advancing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act today. This legislation
should not be misconstrued by the EEOC or Federal courts to impose
abortion-related mandates on employers, or otherwise to promote
abortions, contrary to the intent of Congress.
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