A bill to amend title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit sex discrimination on the basis of pregnancy.
PL 95-555 (S.995), enacted 10/31/1978

92 STAT. 2076 
PUBLIC LAW 95-555—OCT. 31, 1978 
Public Law 95-555 
95th Congress 
J5 
H 
i';, 
An Act 
Oct. 31, 1978 
[S. 995] 
Pregnancy, sex 
discrimination, 
prohibition. 
42 u s e 2000e. 
Definitions 
42 use 
2000e-2. 
Effective date. 
42 u s e 2000e 
note. 
42 u s e 2000e 
note. 
To amend title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit sex dlscriminatioB 
on the basis of pregnancy. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 701 of 
the Civil Eights Act of 1964 is amended by adding at the end thereof 
the following new subsection: 
"(k) The terms 'because of sex' or 'on the basis of sex' include, but 
are not limited to, because of or on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, 
or related medical conditions; and women affected by pregnancy, child-
birth, or related medical conditions shall be treated the same for all 
employment-related purposes, including receipt of benefits under 
fringe benefit programs, as other persons not so affected but similar 
in their ability or inability to work, and nothing in section 703(h) 
of this title shall be interpreted to permit otherwise. This subsection 
shall not require an employer to pay for health insurance benefits for 
abortion, except where the life of the mother would be endangered if 
the fetus were carried to term, or except where medical complications 
have arisen from an abortion: Provided, That nothing herein shall 
preclude an employer from providing abortion benefits or otherwise 
affect bargaining agreements in regard to abortion.". 
SEC. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the amendment 
made by this Act shall be effective on the date of enactment. 
(b) The provisions of the amendment made by the first section of 
this Act shall not apply to any fringe benefit program or fund, or insur-
ance program which is in effect on the date of enactment of this Act 
until 180 days after enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 3. Until the expiration of a period of one year from the date 
of enactment of this Act or, if there is an applicable collective-
bargaining agreement in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, 
until the termination of that agreement, no person who, on the date 
of enactment of this Act is providing either by direct payment or by 
PUBLIC LAW 95-555—OCT. 31, 1978 
92 STAT. 2077 
making contributions to a fringe benefit fund or insurance program, 
benefits in violation with this Act shall, in order to come into com-
pliance with this Act, reduce the benefits or the compensation provided 
any employee on the date of enactment of this Act, either directly or 
by failing to provide sufficient contributions to a fringe benefit fund 
or insurance program: Provided^ That where the costs of such bene-
fits on the date of enactment of this Act are apportioned between 
employers and employees, the payments or contributions required to 
comply with this Act may be made by employers and employees in 
the same proportion: And provided further^ That nothing in this sec-
tion shall prevent the readjustment of benefits or compensation for 
reasons unrelated to compliance with this Act. 
Approved October 31, 1978. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 95-948 accompanying H.R. 6075 (Comm. on Education and 
Labor) and No. 95-1786 (Comm. of Conference). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-331 (Comm. on Human Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 123 (1977): Sept. 15, 16, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 124 (1978): July 18, H.R. 6075 considered and passed House; proceedings 
vacated and S. 995, amended, passed in lieu. 
Oct. 13, Senate agreed to conference report. 
Oct. 15, House agreed to conference report. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS: 
Vol. 14, No. 44 (1978): Oct. 31, Presidential statement.