Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice America Praises House Passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
For Immediate Release: Thursday, September 17, 2020
Contact: [email protected]
Washington, DC — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2694, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), a bill that will advance reproductive freedom by promoting economic security and workplace fairness for pregnant working people. The bill passed 329-73 with bipartisan support and with every Democrat present voting in favor.
“Protecting against pregnancy discrimination in the workplace is an absolutely non-negotiable facet of reproductive freedom,” said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “No one should ever have to choose between a paycheck and a healthy pregnancy, and no one should have to face discrimination or retaliation in the workplace because of a pregnancy, full stop. NARAL applauds the passage of this important legislation and the Members of Congress who fought hard to bring this bill over the finish line including rejecting Republicans’ shameful attempt to hijack progress, attack reproductive freedom, and pursue an agenda of control under the guise of ‘religion.’ The House has delivered an important win for pregnant workers — now it’s time for the Senate to act.”
The bill passed despite efforts led by anti-choice Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), in a blatant attempt to attack reproductive freedom, to incorporate a religious exemption into the bill that was fundamentally at odds with the bill’s purpose and that would have emboldened employers to refuse accommodations to pregnant workers.
NARAL Pro-Choice America, its members, and our coalition partners fought tirelessly in recent years for the passage of H.R. 2694, including placing calls to build support for the bill and joining with over 200 organizations in calling for Congress to pass the bill.
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For over 50 years, NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates and chapters have fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom—including access to abortion, contraception, and paid family leave—for every body. NARAL is powered by its more than 2.5 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 7 in 10 Americans who believe every person should have the freedom to make the best decision for themselves about if, when, and how to raise a family.