H.R. 2694 - 116th Congress (2019-2020) - 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 to an applicant or employee; (3) require such job applicants or employees to accept an accommodation that they do not want, 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 various statutes 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 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.

Text (4)

September 17, 2020

September 17, 2020

September 8, 2020

May 14, 2019

Amendments (1)

Sep 17, 2020

Agreed to in House

Sponsorship

House Amendment 884

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1107, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and Labor is considered adopted.

Agreed To

Actions (26)

Show Only Major Actions

09/17/2020

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

09/17/2020

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

09/17/2020

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 329 - 73 (Roll no. 195).

09/17/2020

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 329 - 73 (Roll no. 195).

09/17/2020

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 177 - 226 (Roll no. 194).

09/17/2020

UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the Foxx (NC) motion to recommit H.R. 2694 with instructions, which was debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

09/17/2020

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4528-4529)

09/17/2020

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate, the Chair put the question on the Foxx motion to recommit and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Fox demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

09/17/2020

The previous question was ordered without objection.

09/17/2020

DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Foxx motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and insert new text entitled the "Pregnant Workers Fairness Act". The new text includes an exemption for religious organizations.

09/17/2020

Ms. Foxx (NC) moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Education and Labor. (text: CR H4524-4526)

09/17/2020

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

09/17/2020

DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 2694.

09/17/2020

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2574, H.R. 2639, H.R. 2694 and H. Res. 908. Provides for one hour of debate on each measure. The previous question will be considered as ordered on each measure without intervening motions except for one motion to recommit with or without instructions on H.R. 2574, H.R. 2639, and H.R. 2694.

09/17/2020

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1107. (consideration: CR H4508-4527)

09/14/2020

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1107 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2574, H.R. 2639, H.R. 2694 and H. Res. 908. Provides for one hour of debate on each measure. The previous question will be considered as ordered on each measure without intervening motions except for one motion to recommit with or without instructions on H.R. 2574, H.R. 2639, and H.R. 2694.

09/08/2020

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 396.

09/08/2020

Committee on the Judiciary discharged.

09/08/2020

Committee on Oversight and Reform discharged.

09/08/2020

Committee on House Administration discharged.

09/08/2020

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 116-494, Part I.

01/14/2020

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 29 - 17.

01/14/2020

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

06/26/2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

05/14/2019

Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Oversight and Reform, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

05/14/2019

Introduced in House

Public Record

Record Updated

Jan 11, 2023 1:45:10 PM