A concurrent resolution recognizing the duty of Congress to meet the needs of working women.
- Bill Number
- S.Con.Res. 31
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-25: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S1619)
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-02T17:52:57Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 31) declares Congress's duty to address the needs of working women in the United States. It highlights ongoing challenges like wage gaps, discrimination, and policy rollbacks, and affirms commitments to gender equity in the workforce as essential for economic stability and prosperity.
Key Provisions
The resolution consists of "Whereas" clauses outlining problems and a "Resolved" section with 12 affirmations by Congress:
- Recognition of equal opportunity: Congress affirms its responsibility to ensure women have equal workforce participation for economic security and democratic involvement.
- Workforce strength: It states that a diverse, inclusive workforce with women in leadership roles boosts innovation and competitiveness.
- Commitments to prosperity: Congress pledges support for:
- Equal pay for equal work and pay transparency.
- Discrimination-free workplaces.
- Safety standards protecting worker health.
- Access to comprehensive health care, including reproductive care.
- Affordable childcare and early education.
- Paid family/medical leave and sick days.
- Predictable scheduling and fair labor rules.
- Affordable housing, education, and job training.
- Dignity and protections: All women, regardless of race, immigration status, or job type, should work free from violence, harassment, discrimination, or abuse.
- Value of all work: Domestic and part-time jobs deserve fair pay, benefits, and conditions.
- Condemnation of harmful policies: It criticizes actions weakening civil rights enforcement, workplace protections, health care access, or family support programs.
- Agency strengthening: Commitment to bolstering agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC, which enforces anti-discrimination laws) and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (which ensures fair hiring by federal contractors).
- Wage improvements: Support for raising the federal minimum wage and ending tipped or subminimum wages.
- Breaking barriers: Expanding programs to reduce job segregation by gender and open high-paying roles to women.
- Union rights: Recognition of workers' rights to unionize and bargain collectively without interference.
- Collaboration call: Urges governments, employers, unions, and communities to partner in creating harassment-free opportunities for women.
- National essential: Declares addressing working women's needs vital to U.S. prosperity.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding concurrent resolution, meaning it expresses Congress's sense or opinion but does not amend, repeal, or create new laws. It does not introduce enforceable changes but critiques recent executive actions (e.g., threats to eliminate the Women's Bureau or rescind harassment guidance) and reaffirms existing commitments under laws like the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (which prohibits wage discrimination based on sex).
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Could pressure agencies like the Department of Labor and EEOC to maintain or restore funding and enforcement for women's programs, potentially reversing staff cuts or policy shifts in majority-women workforces (e.g., at Veterans Affairs or Education Departments).
- On citizens: Raises awareness of issues like the wage gap (widened recently per data cited) and workforce exits (over 455,000 women in 2025, especially mothers and Black women). May inspire future legislation for paid leave, childcare, or union protections, benefiting working women, families, and low-wage sectors like caregiving.
- On international relations: Minimal direct impact, though it references gender equity abroad and could signal U.S. commitment to global standards on women's rights, influencing foreign aid or diplomacy tied to equity programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Working women: Primary focus, especially the ~75 million in the workforce, including women of color, immigrant women, mothers, and those in care work or public sector jobs facing discrimination, harassment, or economic barriers.
- Federal agencies and employees: Departments like Labor, Health and Human Services, and EEOC; majority-women staff at risk from layoffs or reduced enforcement.
- Employers and contractors: Private businesses, federal contractors, and grant recipients urged to promote equity and end discriminatory practices.
- Unions and labor organizations: Supported in efforts to narrow pay gaps and protect organizing rights.
- Communities and families: Broader society benefits from commitments to affordable care, housing, and education, addressing paycheck-to-paycheck struggles.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces constitutional equal protection principles (under the 14th Amendment, ensuring fair treatment under law) without creating new rights; highlights loopholes in existing statutes like the Fair Labor Standards Act but calls for voluntary strengthening rather than mandates.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's Article I powers to regulate commerce and labor, emphasizing its role as the "first branch" to counter executive actions, potentially setting up oversight or funding battles.
- Political: Serves as a partisan critique of the current administration's policies (e.g., program cuts, union erosion), introduced by Democratic senators; as a symbolic measure, it could rally support for future bills on wages or equity, influencing midterm elections or agenda-setting in the 119th Congress, but lacks binding force.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-25: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S1619)
- 2026-03-25: Submitted in Senate
Bill Versions
- Recognizing the duty of Congress to meet the needs of working women. — issued 2026-03-25 — PDF (7 pages)