GOP is Furious: Dems Push Paid Menstrual & Abortion Leave

Democratic lawmakers are backing a new bill that would require employers to provide paid leave for reproductive health needs, including severe menstrual pain, miscarriages, abortions, menopause symptoms and other procedures.

The Reproductive Healthcare Leave Act, introduced by Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, would provide up to 12 days of paid leave per year for workers dealing with reproductive health issues. The bill currently has 28 Democratic co-sponsors and no Republican support.

Ansari introduced the bill as part of her broader H.E.R. Agenda, focused on reproductive health, equity and rights. The package also includes measures calling for more research on gynecological pain management and greater awareness of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.

At a May 21 press conference, Rep. Adelita Grijalva said workers should not be forced to choose between their health and their income.

“Forcing a worker to choose between paying her rent or losing a day’s pay to recover from a grueling gynecological procedure is not a choice. It’s economic violence,” Grijalva said.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib also backed the proposal, saying no one should have to choose between a paycheck and managing severe pain.

Ansari has tied the legislation to her own experience with severe menstrual pain. In an interview with TIME, she described episodes of intense pain that left her sweating, vomiting and unable to function.

The bill has drawn support from Planned Parenthood, the National Organization for Women and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Republicans and conservative critics have already pushed back, questioning whether the measure would create problems for employers or invite abuse. Some critics also argued that Democrats are sending mixed messages by advancing policies based on women’s health while also backing broader gender-identity positions.

Others raised concerns about whether the bill would require employers to provide paid recovery time after abortions.

Planned Parenthood Votes acknowledged that the measure faces major political obstacles, but said lawmakers should still put forward the policies they want to see enacted.

The bill is unlikely to advance in the current Congress without Republican support, but Democrats are framing it as part of a broader push to expand workplace protections around reproductive health.