Love Them Both Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2644
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-03: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-14T16:47:44Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Love Them Both Act of 2025" (H.R. 2644) aims to prevent federal regulations under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) from including provisions related to abortion. The PWFA is a law that requires employers to provide reasonable workplace adjustments for pregnant workers' health needs, similar to accommodations for disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Regulations: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a federal agency that enforces workplace discrimination laws, and the Board of Directors of the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR), which handles similar issues for congressional employees, are barred from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing any rules under Section 105 of the PWFA.
- Scope of Exclusion: These rules cannot apply to abortion itself or to employer-provided coverage or services related to abortion (e.g., time off or health benefits for abortion procedures).
- Short Title: The bill is formally titled the "Love Them Both Act of 2025."
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- The PWFA, enacted in 2022, mandates accommodations for pregnancy-related conditions but does not explicitly address abortion. This bill introduces a specific exclusion, limiting how agencies can interpret and regulate the PWFA to avoid any abortion-related applications.
- It overrides potential agency interpretations that might treat abortion as a pregnancy-related limitation requiring accommodation, effectively narrowing the PWFA's regulatory reach without altering the underlying law.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The EEOC and OCWR would face restrictions in rulemaking, potentially reducing their authority to expand PWFA protections and requiring them to revise or withhold proposed regulations that touch on abortion.
- On Citizens: Pregnant workers seeking workplace accommodations for abortion-related needs (e.g., recovery time) may lose federal protections, leading to potential disparities in support based on the type of pregnancy-related issue. Employers could face clearer boundaries on obligations, reducing legal risks related to abortion but possibly increasing litigation over what qualifies as a "pregnancy-related" condition.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic U.S. employment law.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Pregnant Workers and Employees: Particularly those needing abortion-related accommodations, who may have fewer protections.
- Employers: Gain clarity on excluding abortion from PWFA requirements, potentially simplifying compliance but exposing them to challenges from workers' rights advocates.
- Federal Agencies: EEOC and OCWR, whose regulatory powers are directly limited.
- Advocacy Groups: Pro-life organizations may support the exclusion, while women's rights and reproductive health groups could oppose it as limiting access to care.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The bill could lead to court challenges testing the scope of agency authority under the Administrative Procedure Act (which governs how federal agencies create rules) and whether Congress can preemptively limit interpretations of existing laws like the PWFA.
- Constitutional Implications: Raises questions about equal protection under the 14th Amendment, as it may create distinctions in workplace rights based on reproductive choices; it could also intersect with First Amendment issues if religious employers cite it to avoid accommodations conflicting with their beliefs.
- Political Implications: Reflects ongoing debates over abortion policy post-Roe v. Wade overturn, potentially influencing partisan divides in Congress and agency oversight without directly funding or banning abortions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-03: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-03: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-04-03: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Love Them Both Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-03 — PDF (2 pages)