Legis Daily

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

USA117th CongressS-1486| Senate 
| Updated: 9/30/2021
Robert P. Casey

Robert P. Casey

Democratic Senator

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (40)
Joni Ernst (Republican)Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Bill Cassidy (Republican)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Charles E. Schumer (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Mitt Romney (Republican)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Jon Tester (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Chuck Grassley (Republican)Raphael G. Warnock (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

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 qualified employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. A qualified employee is an employee or applicant who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the position, with specified exceptions. Specifically, the bill declares that it is an unlawful employment practice to fail to make reasonable accommodations to known limitations of such employees unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on an entity's business operation; require a qualified employee affected by such condition to accept an accommodation other than any reasonable accommodation arrived at through an interactive process; deny employment opportunities based on the need of the entity to make such reasonable accommodations to a qualified employee; require such employees to take paid or unpaid leave if another reasonable accommodation can be provided; or take adverse action in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment against a qualified employee requesting or using such reasonable accommodations. The bill sets forth enforcement procedures and remedies that cover different types of employees in relation to such unlawful employment practices. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must provide examples of reasonable accommodations that shall be provided to affected 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.

Bill Text Versions

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2 versions available

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Timeline
Apr 29, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Apr 29, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
May 17, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-1065
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Aug 3, 2021
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Sep 30, 2021
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Murray with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Sep 30, 2021
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 141.
  • April 29, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 29, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • May 17, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-1065
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • August 3, 2021
    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • September 30, 2021
    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Murray with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • September 30, 2021
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 141.

Labor and Employment

Related Bills

  • HR 117-1065: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
  • S 117-4431: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
  • HR 117-2617: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresChild care and developmentCivil actions and liabilityDisability and health-based discriminationEmployee 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 healthWorker safety and health

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

USA117th CongressS-1486| Senate 
| Updated: 9/30/2021
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act This bill prohibits employment practices that discriminate against making reasonable accommodations for qualified employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. A qualified employee is an employee or applicant who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the position, with specified exceptions. Specifically, the bill declares that it is an unlawful employment practice to fail to make reasonable accommodations to known limitations of such employees unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on an entity's business operation; require a qualified employee affected by such condition to accept an accommodation other than any reasonable accommodation arrived at through an interactive process; deny employment opportunities based on the need of the entity to make such reasonable accommodations to a qualified employee; require such employees to take paid or unpaid leave if another reasonable accommodation can be provided; or take adverse action in terms, conditions, or privileges of employment against a qualified employee requesting or using such reasonable accommodations. The bill sets forth enforcement procedures and remedies that cover different types of employees in relation to such unlawful employment practices. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must provide examples of reasonable accommodations that shall be provided to affected 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.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline
Apr 29, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Apr 29, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
May 17, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-1065
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Aug 3, 2021
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Sep 30, 2021
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Murray with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Sep 30, 2021
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 141.
  • April 29, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 29, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • May 17, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-1065
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • August 3, 2021
    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • September 30, 2021
    Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Murray with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • September 30, 2021
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 141.
Robert P. Casey

Robert P. Casey

Democratic Senator

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (40)
Joni Ernst (Republican)Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Bill Cassidy (Republican)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Dianne Feinstein (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Charles E. Schumer (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Mitt Romney (Republican)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Jon Tester (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Chuck Grassley (Republican)Raphael G. Warnock (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Labor and Employment

Related Bills

  • HR 117-1065: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
  • S 117-4431: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
  • HR 117-2617: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresChild care and developmentCivil actions and liabilityDisability and health-based discriminationEmployee 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 healthWorker safety and health