H.R.6359 — Pregnant Students’ Rights Act
House Roll Call
H.R.6359
| Bill | H.R.6359 — Pregnant Students’ Rights Act |
|---|---|
| Vote question | On Passage |
| Vote type | Yea-and-Nay |
| Result | Passed |
| Totals | Yea 217 / Nay 211 / Present 0 / Not Voting 3 |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 216 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| D | 1 | 211 | 0 | 1 |
| I | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Research Brief
On Passage
Bill Analysis
Bill: H.R. 6359 (119th Congress) – Pregnant Students’ Rights Act
Purpose and Scope
H.R. 6359 requires colleges and universities to inform students of their rights related to pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions under existing federal law, primarily Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. It does not create new substantive rights; it focuses on disclosure, transparency, and reporting.
Key Requirements
- Mandatory Notice to Students: Institutions of higher education (IHEs) receiving federal funds must provide clear, written notice to students that:
- Pregnancy and related conditions are protected under Title IX as forms of sex discrimination.
- Students are entitled to reasonable adjustments (e.g., excused absences for childbirth/recovery, opportunity to make up work, changes in class schedule or housing where appropriate).
- Students cannot be forced to withdraw, change programs, or accept alternative accommodations in lieu of remaining in their current course of study.
- Content and Format of Notice: The bill directs that notices be:
- Distributed directly to students (e.g., via email or other standard institutional communication).
- Posted prominently on institutional websites and in relevant handbooks or policy documents.
- Reporting and Compliance:
- IHEs must document their compliance with notice requirements.
- The Department of Education may require periodic reporting or certification that notices have been provided as required.
- Noncompliance may be treated as a violation of conditions attached to federal education funding, enforceable through existing Title IX and federal grants oversight mechanisms.
Agencies and Programs Affected
- Primary agency: U.S. Department of Education, particularly the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which enforces Title IX.
- Affected entities: All public and private colleges and universities, and potentially other postsecondary institutions, that receive federal financial assistance.
Beneficiaries and Regulated Parties
- Beneficiaries: Pregnant and parenting students, including those experiencing childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from these conditions.
- Regulated: Federally funded postsecondary institutions, which must adjust policies and communications to meet the bill’s notice and reporting standards.
Timelines
- The bill typically specifies an implementation period (e.g., within a set number of months after enactment) for institutions to begin providing required notices; compliance would then be ongoing and tied to continued receipt of federal funds.
Yea (217)
K
Ken Calvert
S
Scott Franklin
L
Lisa McClain
J
John Rutherford
D
David Schweikert
P
Pete Sessions
Nay (211)
J
Jason Crow
L
Lloyd Doggett
J
John Garamendi
J
John Mannion
L
Lucy McBath
E
Eric Swalwell
R
Rashida Tlaib
N
Nydia Velázquez
D
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
