Statement of Jocelyn Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 29, 2024 – Yesterday, a far-right extremist judge in Texas issued a ruling that undermines the democratic process and prevents state employees from exercising their rights under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). The National Partnership for Women & Families helped lead the decade-long, bipartisan fight to sign the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) into law in 2022, the legislation provides essential protections for pregnant workers and helps to end pregnancy discrimination in the workplace. In response to yesterday’s ruling, Jocelyn C. Frye, President of the National Partnership released the following statement:

“This is the latest example of far-right extremists using the courts to attack the rights of women and all pregnant people. The legal reasoning put forward by Judge Hendrix, a Trump appointee, is deeply problematic and, if it stands, its implications threaten protections for millions of people, especially women. This decision is not rooted in law, but partisan preferences, and it is opening a dangerous door to undo a critical, bipartisan law that strengthens basic protections for pregnant women on the job.

From worker protections for pregnant people, to reproductive care access including abortion, birth control, and IVF, this partisan, ideological agenda is squarely focused on setting women back decades, stripping us of our rights, autonomy, and economic security – and it is clear that these partisans feel emboldened and unconstrained, and have no intention of stopping.”

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