The Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act was added to the government funding bill on Thursday. The margin was 92-5. The senators who voted against it were: John Cornyn, Mike Lee, Ron Johnson, and Patrick Toomey. The Senate passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act after it was blocked earlier this month. Like the PUMP Act, it was added to the year-end funding package, but only after 24 Republican senators blocked the bill, which guaranteed bathroom breaks for pregnant workers. You can read more. A bill to allow pregnant workers to take bathroom breaks without being fired was blocked by Senate Republicans. The breastfeeding bill was blocked by Sen. Paul.
The Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) for Nursing Mothers Act was introduced by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) According to a source, Paul decided to block the vote because the sponsor of the bill didn't include his amendment that studied the impact of increased regulations on businesses. Paul didn't say anything.
Murray referred to the bill as a matter of common sense and basic human decency.
It's really simple. Murray said that new mothers should have time and space to pump and feed their baby. The senator said that the PUMP Act would have extended protections for breastfeeding while at work. The Economic Policy Institute says the bill would close a loophole in the 2010 Break Time for Nursing Mothers Law.
If they lose their jobs for pumping while working, they will have the right to back pay and reinstatement under the bill.
The PUMP Act was blocked by Sen. Cynthia Lummis due to the fact that employers in the transportation industry wouldn't be able to provide these accommodations. The PUMP Act, which was supposed to be passed before the holiday season, is being blocked again by a Republican. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which provides pregnant workers basic protections like bathroom and water breaks, was opposed by Paul and Tillis. Republicans want to force people to give birth and then refuse to give them any protection or support once they do.
According to Tillis, companies would misuse the law to give workers paid time off for abortions if it weren't for the abortion ban. It seems like the stupidity is also the point.
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