The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s recent rule expanding the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to cover abortions has sparked intense controversy and accusations that the Biden administration is using regulatory overreach to impose a radical left-wing agenda.
The move defies the original bipartisan intent of the law, which aimed to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant women to have healthy pregnancies and recover after childbirth.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a leading Republican cosponsor of the PWFA, expressed outrage at the EEOC’s move, stating: “It defies common sense, and Congress’ intent, that EEOC continues to inject abortion into a law specifically aimed at promoting healthy childbirth. The decision to disregard the legislative process to promote a political agenda is shocking and illegal.”
The vast majority of the roughly 100,000 public comments received by the EEOC opposed including abortion in the PWFA, with around 54,000 arguing it should be excluded compared to 40,000 supporting its inclusion.
Many comments expressed the view that abortion is the destruction of human life and is objectionable on moral and religious grounds.
Despite this, the EEOC chose to side with pro-abortion activists, claiming abortion is “a necessary part of health care” that workers should be able to access regardless of an employer’s religious beliefs.
EEOC says Workday covered by anti-bias laws in AI discrimination case https://t.co/37MVnGX66E pic.twitter.com/yb8EloRNJb
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Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) praised the decision as ensuring “the law will provide protections to more women who need them.”
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However, critics argue the EEOC has brazenly exceeded its authority and violated Congressional intent in an ideological crusade to promote abortion.
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) pointed out that “Abortion is not a medical condition related to pregnancy; it is the opposite,” and that the term ‘abortion’ is not once mentioned in the PWFA.
“Instead of following congressional intent, the Biden administration is using the regulatory process to advance radical policy goals,” said Foxx. “This isn’t surprising given the administration’s predilection for abusing the Constitution.”
She also warned the overly broad rule will cause “chaos and confusion for workers and employers” and force struggling job creators to potentially provide “years of federally mandated leave.”
As the Biden administration continues ramming through partisan policies with little regard for the democratic process or the will of the people, this EEOC rule stands as yet another example of putting extreme ideology over the interests of everyday Americans.
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It’s a disturbing trend that threatens to further divide the nation.
