Fifty members of Congress submitted an amicus brief on May 28 supporting a lawsuit by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and other Catholic organizations that seeks to block a federal agency from enforcing an abortion provision within regulations intended to protect pregnant workers.
Representatives Chris Smith of New Jersey, Erin Houchin of Indiana, Senators Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, James Lankford of Oklahoma, and 46 other Republican members joined the brief in support of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The lawmakers said the regulation published under the Biden administration contradicts the intent of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
“Flouting the law Congress passed, the EEOC transformed the PWFA into a draconian national abortion-accommodations mandate that tramples the conscience rights of those who object to abortion, including some of the very faith-based organizations that supported the PWFA,” according to their brief.
The regulations at issue implement provisions in bipartisan legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden in December 2022. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act prohibits employment practices that discriminate against making reasonable accommodations for qualified employees due to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. Final regulations published in April 2024 included abortion as among those conditions. The amicus brief followed a May 18 request from Catholic groups asking the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to block enforcement.
In 2024, Becket—a Washington-based religious liberty law firm—filed suit on behalf of USCCB, The Catholic University of America and two Louisiana dioceses challenging inclusion of abortion under these rules. Laura Wolk Slavis, counsel at Becket, said in a May 19 statement, “Bureaucrats tried to twist a bipartisan law protecting pregnant women and their unborn babies into a mandate that churches facilitate abortion within their own ministries.” She added, “If there’s one thing everyone should agree on about abortion, it’s that Uncle Sam can’t make Mother Teresa support it.”
Chris Smith is currently serving in Congress representing New Jersey’s Fourth District since replacing Frank Thompson in 1981; he was born in Rahway and lives in Manchester Township after graduating from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor’s degree, according to his official office.
