DEMOCRATS URGE EEOC TO WITHDRAW THE PROPOSED RULE THAT REDEFINES TERMS TO INCLUDE ABORTION

Fairfax, Virginia, October 12, 2023 – Democrats For Life submitted comments on the proposed rule on the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to remain true to the legislative intent. The proposed rule redefines “related medical conditions” within the PWFA to include “birth control...or having or choosing not to have an abortion, among other conditions.”

 “The law has nothing to do with abortion and everything to do with providing pregnant women in the workforce necessary accommodations,” said Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats For Life of America. “The EEOC should not be redefining terms and causing a distraction by deviating from the legislative intent and will of Congress.” 

 The intent of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act is to provide accommodations to pregnant women in the workforce. Sponsored by U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), the law received bipartisan support. The bills' authors agreed that including abortion is outside the scope of the law.

 During the debate in the U.S. Senate, Senator Casey reinforced that under this Act, “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 abortion leave in violation of state law.”

 “This bill gave us hope that bipartisan cooperation could achieve common-ground policies to support women,” said Day. “The EEOC is causing division by redefining terms. It’s time to let a good thing go forward.  The EEOC should abandon and withdraw the proposed rule.”