The House Education and Workforce Committee has approved two bills aimed at supporting pregnant students and strengthening efforts to combat human trafficking. The committee passed H.R. 6359, which is designed to protect the rights of pregnant students in educational settings, and H.R. 4307, which seeks to improve the Department of Labor's ability to identify and respond to human trafficking.
Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) commented on the measures after their passage: “Too often, pregnant students are forced to make an impossible decision: terminate a pregnancy to remain in school, or face reprisals and repercussions for carrying a baby to term. Many schools fail to provide women with the basic support needed to have a healthy pregnancy while in school, adding stress to the lives of expecting mothers instead of alleviating it. Expecting mothers have every right to pursue a high-quality education. I’m proud to support Rep. Hinson’s bill to ensure pregnant students are informed and protected as they further their education.
“The Committee also passed my bipartisan bill to address the scourge of human trafficking. The Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act equips DOL staff with the tools and knowledge needed to detect and confront human trafficking and protect vulnerable people, including women and children, being exploited. In other words, it turns DOL employees into an early warning system against human trafficking. I was proud to introduce this bill with Rep. McBath as Congress works to end the sick crime of human trafficking.”
H.R. 6359, known as the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act and authored by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), would require schools that receive student aid funds to provide annual information about on-campus and community resources available for pregnant students. It would also mandate that these schools offer accommodations for students who are pregnant or caring for a child, as well as inform them about how they can file Title IX complaints if they believe their rights have been violated.
H.R. 4307, called the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act and authored by Chairman Walberg, aims to give Department of Labor staff more resources for reporting suspected labor or sexual exploitation cases. The legislation establishes procedures for DOL employees so they can better assist law enforcement in preventing exploitation while increasing transparency within the department regarding its detection efforts and response protocols.
