***WATCH: Senator Murray virtually joins colleagues, advocates in pushing to pass PWFA, protect pregnant workers***
Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), joined colleagues, advocates, and pregnant workers in pushing for Senate passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) this Congress to protect pregnant workers and ensure they have the basic workplace accommodations they need to have healthy pregnancies.
“It is unconscionable that people who are looking forward to having a new family member are hearing that their lives will be upturned all because their employers refuse to provide basic accommodations,” said Senator Murray. “This is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that will make sure that no one is forced to choose between a job and their pregnancy.”
“We’ve got to get this done this Congress, and I want you to know I’ll be fighting to make sure that it gets done,” Senator Murray said.
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act—legislation led by Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), which Senator Murray cleared in the HELP Committee in an overwhelming bipartisan vote—would require employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers, because no woman should ever have to choose between a healthy pregnancy and being able to keep working to support herself and her family.
On Thursday, Senator Murray underscored the importance of passing the commonsense, bipartisan legislation this Congress to finally close gaps in federal law to ensure pregnant workers are guaranteed the basic accommodations—like additional bathroom breaks or avoiding heavy lifting—they need to have healthy pregnancies while continuing to work. Senator Murray joined A Better Balance and a coalition of advocates, pregnant workers, and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY-10), Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-12), Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), and Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), in pushing for action on the bill at a rally she participated in virtually.
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