With yesterday’s passage of the Omnibus Funding Bill by the U.S. Senate, expanded worker protections and more funding for anti-business regulatory agencies is that much closer to reality. By a vote of 69 – 29, the Senate passed the $1.7 trillion legislation and sent it to the U.S House for their consideration – and likely approval – later today. Aside from its eye-popping cost, the legislation also includes the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which is modeled after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in that it requires employers to make reasonable accommodations to allow pregnant workers to continue working safely, such as additional bathroom breaks, light duty or a stool to sit on if a worker stands all day. In addition, the final product also included the so-called PUMP Act (Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act), which strengthen breastfeeding protections for workers. On the budgetary end, the bill bumps up the 2023 budget for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) by $25 million and the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission by another $35 million. On the positive side of the ledger, the Senate cut the Internal Revenue Service budget by 2% or $275 million, but that a small consolation when you consider the IRS budget grew by $80 billion in the Inflation Reduction Act a few months ago!