2022: Fitzpatrick Voted For The FY 2023 Omnibus Spending Package,
Which Included Requirements For All Employers To Provide Breastfeeding
Workplace Accommodations. In December 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted to concur with the Senate amendment to the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which would "include provisions
to address flexibility for state and local coronavirus relief funding,
use of Russian asset seizures for Ukraine aid, breastfeeding workplace
accommodations, compensation for 9/11 victims, aviation preparedness,
ocean and land conservation programs, consumer protections, pesticide
safety and lobster fishing regulations." The vote was on a motion to
concur. The House concurred with the Senate amendment by a vote of
225-201, thus bill was sent to President Biden and ultimately became
law. [House Vote 549,
12/23/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/23/22;
Congressional Actions, S.Amdt.
6552;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2617]
Added To The Omnibus As An Amendment, The Breastfeeding
Accommodations Provision Mandated Employers To Provide A Designated
Breastfeeding Location Other Than A Restroom And Provide A
"Reasonable Break Time" To Breastfeed. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "The original bill (S 1658) would mandate that employers
provide nursing workers with a designated breastfeeding space other
than a bathroom as well as 'reasonable break time' to breastfeed,
lasting for up to a year after the child's birth. The amendment,
which was subject to a 60-vote threshold, was approved 92-5. The
Senate later voted 68-29 to pass the omnibus spending bill (HR
2617), paving the way for the House to clear the legislation ahead
of government spending (PL 117-229) running out at midnight on
Friday." [Congressional Quarterly,
12/22/22]
The Provision Exempted Airlines From The Breastfeeding
Accommodation Mandate And State Accommodation Mandates And Provided
Some Protections To The Rail Industry, Including Not Requiring Them
To Retrofit Rail Cars. According to Congressional Quarterly, "But
the final text includes language that would exempt airlines both
from providing crew members with in-flight breastfeeding
accommodations and from state laws mandating such accommodations.
The rail industry, which also expressed concerns with language in
the bill in the past, is not completely exempt from the mandates,
but has some protections such as not having to retrofit rail cars."
[Congressional Quarterly,
12/22/22]
The FY 2023 Omnibus Included A Provision That Guaranteed Workplace
Accommodations For Nursing Workers To Pump Their Breastmilk.
According to CNN, "Also, another provision in the package guarantees
workplace accommodations -- particularly time to pump -- for more
nursing workers." [CNN,
12/29/22]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted For The FY 2023 Omnibus Spending Package,
Which Included Protections For Pregnant Workers Against Workplace
Discrimination. In December 2022, according to Congressional
Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted to concur with the Senate amendment to the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which would "put in place
protections for pregnant workers against workplace discrimination." The
vote was on a motion to concur. The House concurred with the Senate
amendment by a vote of 225-201, thus bill was sent to President Biden
and ultimately became law. [House Vote 549,
12/23/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/23/22;
Congressional Actions, S.Amdt.
6552;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2617]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted To Require Employers To Make Reasonable
Accommodations For Pregnant Employees. In May 2021, Fitzpatrick voted
for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act of 2021 which would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "require public employers and private employers
with at least 15 employees to make reasonable accommodations to
employees for known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth or
related medical conditions, unless the employer demonstrates that such
accommodations would impose an undue hardship on their operations." The
vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 315-101. The
Senate did not take substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 143,
5/14/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/14/21;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1065]
The Bill Would Have Provided Legal Benefits For Pregnant Employees
Denied Workplace Accommodation. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "provide legal remedies for employees denied reasonable
accommodations, including rights to compensatory damages, lost pay
and reasonable attorney fees." The vote was on passage. The House
passed the bill by a vote of 315-101. [House Vote 143,
5/14/21;
Congressional Quarterly,
5/14/21; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
1065]
The Bill Would Have Required The Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission To Provide Examples Of Reasonable Accommodations For
Pregnant Employees. According to Congressional Quarterly, "require
the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, within two years of
enactment, to issue regulations to carry out the bill's provisions,
including to provide examples of reasonable accommodations for
pregnant workers." [Congressional Quarterly,
5/14/21]
The Bill Would Have Prohibited Employers From Terminating Or
Denying Pregnant Individuals Employment And Prohibited Employers
From Coercing Pregnant Workers Into Taking Paid Or Unpaid Leave If
Reasonable Accommodations Were Available. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "prohibit employers from denying employment
opportunities to or retaliating against such employees based on the
need to provide accommodations. It would prohibit employers from
requiring such employees to take paid or unpaid leave if reasonable
accommodations can be provided or to accept any accommodation other
than a reasonable accommodation arrived at through an interactive
process between the employer and employee." [Congressional
Quarterly, 5/14/21]