WASHINGTON – This morning, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) joined Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) as an original cosponsor of the Pregnancy Discrimination Amendment Act. Senator Fischer released the following statement regarding the bill this afternoon:

“Our nation has made important progress over the past 30 years, providing women with the right protections and laws to shield them from workplace discrimination. But as the challenges facing America’s working families continue to grow and evolve, our laws must keep up. That’s why I’m pleased to join my colleagues in support of this new bill that will protect pregnant workers from discrimination while reinforcing current law.”

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. The Supreme Court recently reaffirmed the protections provided to pregnant applicants and workers by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act in Young v. United Parcel Service, Inc.

However, the Supreme Court indicated that the existing law is not clear on whether employers who provide one or two workers with an accommodation must provide similar accommodations to all pregnant workers.

The Pregnancy Discrimination Amendment Act would strengthen the 1978 law by requiring employers to treat pregnant workers as well as any other employees in similar working conditions. The bill would also ensure that the prohibitions on discrimination apply equally to labor unions and collective bargaining agreements.

Click here to view the Pregnancy Discrimination Amendment Act.  

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