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 the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to develop and disseminate clear, standardized information on the rights of pregnant students and students with childbirth-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 notice, transparency, and reporting.
Key Provisions
Model Notification Document:
- ED must create a plain-language model notice describing protections for students who are pregnant, have given birth, or have related medical conditions (including rights to reasonable adjustments, leave, and protection from discrimination and retaliation).
- The notice must be made publicly available and periodically updated.
Institutional Duties (Covered Entities):
- Colleges, universities, and K–12 schools receiving federal funds (Title IX recipients) must provide this notice to students.
- Required dissemination channels typically include:
- Posting on institutional websites;
- Inclusion in student handbooks or codes of conduct;
- Distribution to students upon enrollment or at specified intervals.
- Institutions must also inform students how to file complaints with the school and with ED’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Reporting and Oversight:
- ED may be directed to collect or summarize data on complaints or enforcement actions related to pregnancy discrimination.
- ED must issue guidance or technical assistance to help schools comply with notice requirements.
Agencies and Programs Affected
- Primary: U.S. Department of Education (especially OCR).
- Secondary: All Title IX–covered educational institutions (public and private K–12, colleges, universities, some vocational programs).
Who Benefits / Is Regulated
- Beneficiaries: Pregnant and postpartum students, including those with pregnancy-related conditions, who gain clearer access to information about existing protections and accommodations.
- Regulated Parties: Educational institutions receiving federal funds, which must adopt and distribute the ED-developed notice.
Timelines
- The bill sets deadlines (typically within months of enactment) for ED to issue the model notice and for institutions to begin providing it, though exact dates are specified in the statutory text. No new permanent funding stream is created; implementation relies on existing ED administrative resources.
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
