Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) issued the following statement in response to last week's ruling in a Texas Federal Court undermining the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act:

"Last week, a judge appointed by former President Donald Trump issued an outrageous ruling that eliminates workplace rights granted to Texas state employees under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). This ruling is not yet in effect, and I fully expect it to be appealed. However, as the author of the PWFA and an advocate for workers’ rights and reproductive health, I am compelled to comment on how this ruling will impact pregnant workers.

Over a decade ago, I became aware of an enormous and persistent problem affecting pregnant workers across the country. Large numbers of pregnant workers were getting pushed out of their jobs when they simply needed a modest accommodation to continue working, and employers were getting away with this dangerous practice due to loopholes in federal law. I learned the stories of women like Armanda Legros, who was the sole breadwinner for her family when she lost her job as an armored truck driver, all because she requested to avoid heavy lifting during her pregnancy after she pulled a muscle. As a result, Armanda lost her health insurance and had to apply for food stamps to feed her four-year-old son.

I immediately went to work drafting the PWFA, a bill that allows workers the right to reasonable accommodations for physical limitations due to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, absent undue hardship on the employer. After 10 years of advocacy and strong bipartisan support in the House and the Senate, I am proud that the PWFA was signed into law by President Biden in 2022. I am even more proud that since the PWFA went into effect in June 2023, pregnant workers can no longer be forced off the job and face devastating economic consequences because they need temporary changes at work to maintain a healthy pregnancy or safe recovery from childbirth.

This ruling is yet another attack on the reproductive rights of women in this country. The rights granted to workers under the PWFA lead to healthier pregnancies and help address our nation’s Black maternal health crisis. Because of the protections included in the PWFA, more women have been able to enter and stay in the workforce.

I strongly disagree with this decision, and I will continue to fight for the rights of pregnant workers."

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