Attorneys General Liz Murrill of Louisiana and Lynn Fitch of Mississippi have initiated legal action against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The lawsuit challenges the EEOC's interpretation of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, claiming it is being used to support a national abortion policy favored by the Biden administration.
The suit argues that the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was intended to bridge existing gaps between various acts such as the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act. These laws collectively address workplace discrimination due to pregnancy, mandate accommodations for disabilities, and provide extended unpaid leave for serious health conditions.
Attorney General Liz Murrill expressed concern over what she views as an unconstitutional overreach by bureaucrats. "The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was originally a bipartisan law passed by Congress to support mothers. This new action by the EEOC is another example of bureaucrats rewriting acts of Congress to their own liking, and it’s unconstitutional. We will continue to challenge this administration’s overreach and protect pregnant women," she stated.
Lynn Fitch echoed these sentiments, emphasizing her belief that current measures are under threat. “The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was a bipartisan effort to help women in the workplace while they are pregnant and following childbirth,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. She criticized the Biden Administration for allegedly interpreting the law in a way that could enforce accommodations for elective abortions, potentially conflicting with state laws or religious beliefs.
Pro-life organizations such as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops supported this legislation with hopes that it would prevent women from feeling compelled to choose between career prospects and family life while safeguarding employers' conscience rights.
Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania also commented during legislative discussions that "under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, the [EEOC] could not – could not – issue any regulation that requires abortion leave, nor does the act permit the EEOC to require employers to provide abortions in violation of State law."
This complaint has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.