Press Releases

Today, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) delivered the following statement, as prepared for delivery, at a markup of two bills to protect pregnant students and combat human trafficking:

"Today, the Committee will mark up two important pieces of legislation. 

"The first is H.R. 6359, the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act, which addresses a simple but serious problem: too many pregnant students don’t know what help is available to them. 

"Under Title IX, pregnant students are entitled to reasonable accommodations, such as excused absences for medical appointments and childbirth. But too often students are given incorrect or incomplete information regarding their rights. 

"The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act would change this. It requires colleges and universities to clearly inform students of their rights under Title IX and to provide a list of on-campus and community resources that can help an expectant mother through pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting—without forcing her to put her education on hold. 

"It also explains how students can file a complaint with the Department of Education or the student’s school if she believes she has been discriminated against due to her pregnancy. 

"Colleges and universities have a responsibility to ensure every pregnant student feels supported in continuing her education. 

"With less than a month until the annual March for Life in our nation’s capital, I’m proud to lead this Committee in supporting pregnant students and their children. 

"I’d like to thank the sponsor of the bill, Representative Ashley Hinson (R-IA), for her leadership on this issue for the third Congress. 

"The second bill before us is H.R. 4307, the Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act. This bipartisan bill, authored by me and Congresswoman Lucy McBath, will strengthen the Department of Labor’s (DOL) ability to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable adults and children. 

"Specifically, it ensures DOL enforcement personnel are trained to recognize the signs of trafficking, have the tools they need to detect forced labor and sexual exploitation during workplace investigations, and have a clear process for coordinating with law enforcement. It also requires an annual report to Congress, helping guide the Committee’s oversight and strengthen future enforcement efforts."

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