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A bill to eliminate discrimination and promote women's health and economic security by ensuring reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.

USA115th CongressS-1101| Senate 
| Updated: 5/11/2017
Robert P. Casey

Robert P. Casey

Democratic Senator

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (27)
Dean Heller (Republican)Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act This bill prohibits employment practices that discriminate against making reasonable accommodations for job applicants or employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Specifically, the bill declares that it is an unlawful employment practice to: (1) fail to make reasonable accommodations to known limitations of such job applicants or employees, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on an entity's business operation; (2) deny employment opportunities based on the need of the entity to make such reasonable accommodations; (3) require such job applicants or employees to accept an accommodation that they choose not to accept, if such accommodation is unnecessary to perform the job; (4) require such employees to take paid or unpaid leave if another reasonable accommodation can be provided to their known limitations; or (5) take adverse action in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment against an employee requesting or using such reasonable accommodations. The bill sets forth enforcement procedures and remedies under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, and the rights and protections extended to presidential offices. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must provide examples of reasonable accommodations that shall be provided to affected job applicants or employees unless the employer can demonstrate that doing so would impose an undue hardship. The bill prohibits state immunity under the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution from an action for a violation of this bill.
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Timeline
May 11, 2017
Introduced in Senate
May 11, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Jun 7, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-2417
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
  • May 11, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 11, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • June 7, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-2417
    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

Labor and Employment

Related Bills

  • HR 115-2417: To eliminate discrimination and promote women's health and economic security by ensuring reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresChild care and developmentCivil actions and liabilityEmployee hiringEmployee leaveEmployment discrimination and employee rightsEqual Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)Government employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment liabilitySex and reproductive healthSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationState and local government operationsWomen's employmentWomen's health

A bill to eliminate discrimination and promote women's health and economic security by ensuring reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.

USA115th CongressS-1101| Senate 
| Updated: 5/11/2017
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act This bill prohibits employment practices that discriminate against making reasonable accommodations for job applicants or employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Specifically, the bill declares that it is an unlawful employment practice to: (1) fail to make reasonable accommodations to known limitations of such job applicants or employees, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on an entity's business operation; (2) deny employment opportunities based on the need of the entity to make such reasonable accommodations; (3) require such job applicants or employees to accept an accommodation that they choose not to accept, if such accommodation is unnecessary to perform the job; (4) require such employees to take paid or unpaid leave if another reasonable accommodation can be provided to their known limitations; or (5) take adverse action in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment against an employee requesting or using such reasonable accommodations. The bill sets forth enforcement procedures and remedies under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, and the rights and protections extended to presidential offices. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must provide examples of reasonable accommodations that shall be provided to affected job applicants or employees unless the employer can demonstrate that doing so would impose an undue hardship. The bill prohibits state immunity under the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution from an action for a violation of this bill.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 11, 2017
Introduced in Senate
May 11, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Jun 7, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-2417
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
  • May 11, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 11, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • June 7, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-2417
    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Robert P. Casey

Robert P. Casey

Democratic Senator

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (27)
Dean Heller (Republican)Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Labor and Employment

Related Bills

  • HR 115-2417: To eliminate discrimination and promote women's health and economic security by ensuring reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresChild care and developmentCivil actions and liabilityEmployee hiringEmployee leaveEmployment discrimination and employee rightsEqual Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)Government employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment liabilitySex and reproductive healthSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationState and local government operationsWomen's employmentWomen's health