Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank the distinguished gentleman from Virginia for his kindness. This has to pass today if we have any sense of…”

“I thank the distinguished gentleman from Virginia for his kindness. This has to pass today if we have any sense of fairness not only to women, but to our children. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act would establish that private-sector employers with more than 15 employees, and public-sector employers must make reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees, job applicants, and individuals with known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Pregnant workers and individuals with known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions cannot be denied employment. The Supreme Court decision, just recently, in 2015, that allowed pregnant workers to bring reasonable accommodation discrimination claims is not enough because pregnant workers are still being denied accommodations, because the Young decision set an unreasonably high standard for proving discrimination. This is not discrimination. I have never seen a religious organization that wants to deny anyone any opportunity. This is a fair assessment. I know it personally because I was denied a job because I was nursing. A job was taken away from me. When I was pregnant and was about to give birth, there was no definition of pregnancy leave for my position. At that time I was a lawyer, practicing law in a large firm, and it was, at best, two weeks and get back.…”