coleman appeals maryland et argued january decided march family medical leave act fmla entitles employee take work weeks unpaid leave per year care newborn son daughter adoption placement child care spouse son daughter parent serious medical condition employee serious health condition condition interferes employee ability perform work fmla also creates private right action equitable relief damages employer including public agency federal state present purposes subparagraphs referred provisions subparagraph provision nevada dept human resources hibbs held congress subject suit violations subparagraph based evidence policies discriminated basis sex petitioner filed suit alleging employer maryland appeals instrumentality state violated fmla denying leave federal district dismissed suit sovereign immunity grounds fourth circuit affirmed holding unlike provision hibbs provision directed identified pattern discrimination congruent proportional pattern discrimination part held judgment affirmed affirmed justice kennedy joined chief justice justice thomas justice alito concluded suits provision barred sovereign immunity pp federal system sovereigns immune damages suits unless waive defense see kimel florida bd regents congress may also abrogate immunity pursuant powers fourteenth amendment must make intention unmistakably clear language statute hibbs supra fmla congress also must tailor legislation enacted remedy prevent conduct transgressing fourteenth amendment substantive provisions florida prepaid postsecondary ed expense bd college savings bank must congruence proportionality injury prevented remedied means adopted end city boerne flores pp discrimination supported allowing subparagraph suits absent respect provision petitioner three arguments contrary unpersuasive pp petitioner maintains provision addresses sex discrimination sex stereotyping provision standing alone valid abrogation immunity suit time fmla enacted evidence discrimination stereotyping policies congress concerned economic burdens imposed job loss employees families discrimination based illness sex although provision offers women benefit allowing take leave illnesses provision remedy congruent proportional identified constitutional violations fmla enacted congress evidence excluding illnesses leave policies pp petitioner also argues provision necessary adjunct provision sustained hibbs claim provisions work tandem ensure equal availability total fmla leave time women men despite different patterns unconvincing comply requirements city boerne also congressional findings evidence provision necessary provisions reduces employer discrimination women pp finally petitioner contends provision helps single parents keep jobs get ill fact single parents happen women demonstrates provision directed remedying neutral leave restrictions disparate effect women however lthough disparate impact may relevant evidence discrimination evidence insufficient prove constitutional violation even fourteenth amendment subjects state action strict scrutiny board trustees univ garrett unlikely many neutral leave policies affected provision unconstitutional scope provision proportion supposed remedial preventive objectives pp justice scalia adhered view abandon congruence proportionality approach favor one properly tied text grants congress power enforce appropriate legislation provisions fourteenth amendment outside context racial discrimination congress power limited regulation conduct violates fourteenth amendment thus reach state failure grant leave employees pp kennedy announced judgment delivered opinion roberts thomas alito joined thomas filed concurring opinion scalia filed opinion concurring judgment ginsburg filed dissenting opinion breyer joined sotomayor kagan joined opinion kennedy notice opinion subject formal revision publication preliminary print reports readers requested notify reporter decisions washington typographical formal errors order corrections may made preliminary print goes press daniel coleman petitioner appeals maryland et al writ certiorari appeals fourth circuit march justice kennedy announced judgment delivered opinion chief justice justice thomas justice alito joined question case whether state employee allowed recover damages state entity employs invoking one provisions federal statute express terms seeks abrogate immunity suits damages statute question family medical leave act stat et seq provision issue requires employers including state employers grant unpaid leave self care serious medical condition provided statutory requisites met particularly requirements total amount annual leave taken act provisions exceed stated maximum agreement every appeals addressed question holds suits provision barred immunity sovereigns federal system see case nelson university miles bellfontaine habilitation center per curiam toeller wisconsin dept corrections touvell ohio dept mental retardation developmental disabilities brockman wyoming dept family laro new hampshire family medical leave act fmla act entitles eligible employees take work weeks unpaid leave per year employee may take leave fmla birth son daughter order care son daughter adoption placement child employee care spouse son daughter parent serious health condition employee serious health condition condition interferes employee ability perform work act creates private right action seek equitable relief money damages employer including public agency federal state competent jurisdiction noted subparagraph issue considered subparagraph nevada dept human resources hibbs subparagraph like grants leave reasons related family care three provisions referred provisions hibbs held congress subject suit violations subparagraph holding rested evidence policies differentiated basis sex administered even neutral policies ways discriminated basis sex see subparagraph provision issue hibbs petitioner daniel coleman employed appeals state maryland coleman requested sick leave informed terminated resign coleman sued state district district maryland alleging inter alia employer violated fmla failing provide leave district dismissed suit basis maryland appeals entity sovereign state immune suit damages parties dispute district ruling maryland appeals entity instrumentality state purposes sovereign immunity district concluded fmla provision validly abrogate state immunity suit app pet cert appeals fourth circuit affirmed reasoning unlike provision issue hibbs provision directed identified pattern discrimination congruent proportional pattern discrimination part certiorari granted ii foundational premise federal system sovereigns immune suits damages save elect waive defense see kimel florida bd regents alden maine exception principle congress may abrogate immunity suit pursuant powers fourteenth amendment see fitzpatrick bitzer congress must mak intention abrogate unmistakably clear language statute hibbs point act express clear purpose abrogate immunity ibid clarity congress intent abrogate immunity suits damages fmla fairly debatable congress subjected public agency suit fmla public agency defined include government state political subdivision thereof agency state political subdivision state iii question becomes whether provision attempt abrogate immunity valid exercise congressional power fourteenth amendment section grants congress power enforce substantive guarantees amendment appropriate legislation power enforce authority remedy deter violation rights see board trustees univ garrett quoting kimel supra ensure congress enforcement powers remain enforcement powers envisioned ratifiers amendment rather powers redefine substantive scope congress must tailor legislation enacted remedy conduct transgressing fourteenth amendment substantive provisions florida prepaid postsecondary ed expense bd college savings bank whether congressional act passed impose monetary liability upon requires assessment congress intended remedy means congress adopted address evil see city boerne flores legislation enacted must targeted conduct transgressing fourteenth amendment substantive provisions florida prepaid supra see kimel supra city boerne must congruence proportionality injury prevented remedied means adopted end analysis hibbs permitted employees recover damages violations subparagraph enacting fmla congress relied upon evidence pattern discrimination policies facially discriminatory leave policies granted longer periods leave women men also administered facially neutral policies ways practices reflected congress found pervasive stereotype caring family members women work stereotype even succumbed earlier times faced record unconstitutional participation fostering discrimination administration leave benefits hibbs concluded requiring state employers give employees opportunity take leave narrowly targeted faultline work family precisely overgeneralization remains strongest said requiring give employees opportunity take leave petitioner advances three arguments allowing employees recover damages violate fmla provision provision standing alone addresses sex discrimination sex stereotyping provision necessary adjunct provision sustained hibbs provision eases burden single parents provisions support provision lacks namely evidence pattern state constitutional violations accompanied remedy drawn narrow terms address prevent violations standing alone provision valid abrogation immunity suit fmla enacted percent employees covered paid sick leave plans percent employees likewise enjoyed disability protection brief texas et al amici curiae hereinafter texas brief citing bureau labor statistics dept labor employee benefits state local governments hereinafter bls evidence suggest facially discriminatory leave policies administered neutral leave policies discriminatory way scant evidence legislative history purported stereotype harbored employers women take leave often men congress considered evidence men women medical leave approximately equally pt hereinafter nothing record shows employers formulated leave policies based contrary view without widespread evidence sex discrimination sex stereotyping administration sick leave apparent congressional purpose enacting provision unrelated supposed wrongs legislative history provision reveals concern economic burdens employee employee family resulting job loss concern discrimination basis illness sex see pp findings pertinent provision statute makes reference distinction basis sex see inadequate job security employees serious health conditions prevent working temporary periods contrast regard family care congress invoked concerns related gender see ue nature roles men women society primary responsibility family caretaking often falls women responsibility affects working lives women affects working lives men true provision offers women benefit allowing take leave illnesses remedy provision congruent proportional identified constitutional violations time fmla enactment percent state employees paid plans work percent disability protection texas brief citing bls rept state employees presumably take leave illnesses policies congress document pattern excluding illnesses policies congress said nothing existence adequacy state remedies florida prepaid follows abrogating immunity suits damages failure give leave congruent proportional remedy existing state leave policies sufficed alternative justification provision suggested provision necessary adjunct provisions petitioner argues employers may assume women likely take leave men fmla therefore offers weeks leave family care self care combined according petitioner provision coupled provisions provision reduce difference expected number weeks fmla leave different employees take different reasons fact leave effect mean example women expected take days leave per year men take women men expected take days leave per year difference expected number days leave cost employer remains regardless availability leave congress made findings received specific testimony suggest availability leave equalizes expected amount fmla leave men women take even women take leave often men men take leave often women little evidence employers assume see petitioner suggests women expected take weeks leave fmla purposes therefore amount leave taken men diminish difference amount fmla leave taken men women little evidence support petitioner assumption magnitude women expected fmla leave purposes men expected take five days sick leave per year see provision diminishes difference expected leave time maximum five days extent women use available fmla leave reasons petitioner overly complicated argument provision works tandem provisions unconvincing end comply clear requirements city boerne addition petitioner first defense provision contradicts second defense provision first defense told employers assume women take leave men see tr oral arg second defense told provision provides incentive hire women counteract incentives created provisions employers assume women take leave men first defense correct second defense wrong words employers assume women take leave often men first defense provision provide incentive hire women contrary provision provide incentive discriminate women little support record concerns supposedly animated provision florida prepaid supra supposition conjecture support contention provision necessary make provisions effective evidence documented support provision large degree unrelated sex discrimination administration provisions see supra congress made findings cite specific detailed evidence show provision necessary provisions reduces employer incentives discriminate women congress said nothing existence adequacy state policies florida prepaid supra see garrett precedents required subject unconsenting suits damages particularly violations provision provision supposedly preventive step aid already preventive provisions provisions see florida prepaid legislative record still provides little support proposition congress sought remedy fourteenth amendment violation enacting patent remedy act kimel one means made determination examining legislative record containing reasons congress action fleeting references leave inseparable leave fall short required valid abrogation immunity suits damages florida prepaid supra isolated sentences clipped floor debates testimony kimel supra stated conclusions unsupported evidence findings provision interrelates provisions counteract employers incentives discriminate women congress must rely abstract generalities subject suits damages otherwise congress choose combat purported effects provisions allowing employees sue permit employees take vacation time fmla nothing particular leave opposed leave personal reason connects gender discrimination issue whether subparagraph abrogate state immunity damages sufficient nexus indeed demonstrated nexus leave gender discrimination state employers documented discrimination women general workplace persistent unfortunate reality must assume still prevalent wrong explicit purpose congress adopting fmla improve workplace conditions women see may subject suits damages based violations comprehensive statute unless congress identified specific pattern constitutional violations state employers see city boerne petitioner last defense provision provision helps single parents retain jobs become ill however explain provision remedies prevents constitutional violations fact single parents happen women see demonstrates provision directed remedying employers neutral leave restrictions disparate effect women although disparate impact may relevant evidence discrimination evidence alone insufficient prove constitutional violation even fourteenth amendment subjects state action strict scrutiny garrett supra see tuan anh nguyen ins dissenting washington davis extent provision addresses neutral leave policies disparate impact women directed pattern constitutional violations moreover unlikely many neutral leave policies affected provision unconstitutional scope provision proportion supposed remedial preventive objectives kimel supra see city boerne supra course state need assert eleventh amendment immunity suits damages see sossamon texas slip state may choose waive immunity federal pleasure discrimination women contrary public policy state maryland see maryland fair employment practices act md state govt code ann lexis state conceded act good social policy see tr oral arg state agrees petitioner damages liability violations provision necessary combat discrimination women state may waive immunity create parallel state law cause action consequence constitutional design money damages exception sovereigns defendants see pennhurst state school hospital halderman subjecting suits damages pursuant requires theory abrogating immunity aids advances stated congressional purpose abrogate immunity suits damages congress must identify pattern constitutional violations tailor remedy congruent proportional documented violations failed allowed employees sue violations fmla provision judgment appeals affirmed ordered thomas concurring daniel coleman petitioner appeals maryland et al writ certiorari appeals fourth circuit march justice thomas concurring join plurality opinion holding congress validly abrogate immunity suit money damages violations provision family medical leave act fmla plurality explains case distinguishable nevada dept human resources hibbs held congress validly abrogated immunity suit violations fmla provision ante write separately reiterate view hibbs wrongly decided provision sufficiently linked demonstrated pattern unconstitutional discrimination see kennedy joined scalia thomas dissenting tennessee lane thomas dissenting provision issue case even removed pattern scalia concurring judgment daniel coleman petitioner appeals maryland et al writ certiorari appeals fourth circuit march justice scalia concurring judgment plurality opinion seems faithful application congruence proportionality jurisprudence opinion dissent varying outcomes arrived congruence proportionality test make sense turn flabby test standing invitation judicial arbitrariness decisionmaking tennessee lane scalia dissenting moreover process applying seeming apply test must scour legislative record search evidence supports congressional action see ante post opinion ginsburg grading congress homework task ill suited perform ill advised undertake adhere view instead adopt approach properly tied text grants congress power enforce appropriate legislation provisions fourteenth amendment emphasis added explained greater detail elsewhere see lane supra outside context racial discrimination different stare decisis reasons limit congress power regulation conduct violates fourteenth amendment failing grant state employees leave purpose purpose matter come close accordingly affirm judgment appeals ginsburg dissenting daniel coleman petitioner appeals maryland et al writ certiorari appeals fourth circuit march justice ginsburg justice breyer joins justice sotomayor justice kagan join dissenting section fourteenth amendment provides state shall deny person within jurisdiction equal protection laws section grants congress power enforce appropriate legislation provisions article congress enforcement power includes authority remedy deter violations substantive guarantees prohibiting conduct forbidden amendment text kimel ida bd regents words congress may enact prophylactic legislation proscribes facially constitutional conduct order prevent deter unconstitutional conduct nevada dept human resources hibbs family medical leave act fmla act entitles eligible employees weeks leave period care newborn son daughter care newly adopted son daughter care spouse child parent serious health condition employee serious health condition makes unable perform functions position even accepting view scope congress power fourteenth amendment hold provision validly enforces right free gender discrimination section legislation must targeted conduct transgressing fourteenth amendment substantive provisions ante internal quotation marks omitted nd must congruence proportionality injury prevented remedied means adopted end ibid quoting city boerne flores first step boerne inquiry calls identification constitutional right congress sought enforce see tennessee lane fmla provision maryland asserts trains right free gender discrimination equal protection right free irrational state employment discrimination based medical condition brief respondents plurality agrees concluding provision reveals concern discrimination basis illness sex ante declaring plurality undervalues language purpose history fmla provision important role statutory scheme well plurality underplays main theme decision hibbs fmla aims protect right free discrimination workplace begin text statute repeatedly emphasizes gender discrimination one fmla stated purposes entitle employees take reasonable leave manner consistent equal protection clause fourteenth amendment minimizes potential employment discrimination basis sex ensuring generally leave available eligible medical reasons including disability compelling family reasons basis another identified aim promote goal equal employment opportunity women men pursuant equal protection clause mployment standards apply one gender congress expressly found serious potential encouraging employers discriminate employees applicants employment gender fmla purpose legislative history reinforce conclusion fmla entirety directed sex discrimination indeed fmla originally envisioned way guarantee without singling women pregnancy pregnant women lose jobs gave birth provision achieves aim brief history order congressional campaign howard berman pledged introduce legislation similar california law challenged california fed sav loan assn guerra wisensale family leave policy political economy work family america hereinafter wisensale california law enacted made unlawful employer refuse grant female employees disabled pregnancy childbirth four months unpaid leave see cal stats ch codified cal govt code ann west supp california law sharply divided women rights advocates feminists asserted violated pregnancy discrimination act pda commitment treating pregnancy requiring leave disability caused pregnancy childbirth thereby treating pregnancy sui generis see brief american civil liberties union et al amici curiae california pp feminists disagreed urging california law consistent pda remedied discriminatory burden inadequate leave policies placed woman right procreate see brief coalition reproductive equality workplace et al amici curiae see also williams equality riddle pregnancy equal treatment debate rev soc change hereinafter williams discussing disagreement california fed moved lower federal courts feminists began work leave model eventually became fmla see ross legal aspects parental leave parental leave child care hyde essex eds hereinafter ross berman met women legal defense fund donna lenhoff drafter first fmla bill wisensale agreed national bill focus pregnancy equal treatment workers ross see also kazmier widmann dennis dissenting perceiving enacting pda achieved intended result preventing discrimination either women men granting leave time felt necessary affirmatively grant pregnancy leave women men congress began considering issue family medical though california eventually upheld california leave policy preempted pda feminists continued believe viewing pregnancy sui generis perpetuated widespread discrimination therefore maintained commitment leave see joint hearing subcommittee civil service subcommittee compensation employee benefits house committee post office civil service hereinafter house hearing statement eleanor holmes norton georgetown university law center california fed becomes model employers provide something women affected pregnancy required provide employees gives fodder seek discriminate women employment california fed case preferred interpretation urged feminists congress agreed see infra adhering feminists aim provision prescribes comprehensive leave women disabled pregnancy recuperating childbirth without singling pregnancy childbirth see significant benefit temporary medical leave provided legislation form protection offers women workers bear children bill treats employees temporarily unable work due serious health conditions fashion create risk discrimination pregnant women posed legislation provides job protection disability legislation solely protecting pregnant women gives employers economic incentive discriminate women hiring policies legislation helping workers equally view history impossible conclude nothing particular leave connects gender discrimination ante ii boerne next asks whether congress evidence pattern constitutional violations part hibbs see also boerne beyond question congress evidence pattern workplace discrimination pregnant women section therefore understood responsive designed prevent unconstitutional behavior although pda proscribed blatant discrimination basis pregnancy see supra act fairly described necessary sufficient measure fmla hearings conducted included illustrative testimony women fired becoming pregnant giving birth example beverly wilkenson granted seven weeks leave upon birth child eve return work superior informed job eliminated stated beverly best thing stay home take care baby collect unemployment hearing subcommittee relations house committee education labor hereinafter house hearing statement beverly wilkenson see also hereinafter senate report describing wilkenson testimony similarly linda pillsbury notified longer job three weeks daughter three secretaries workplace also forced jobs returned work within weeks giving birth see hearings subcommittee children family drugs alcoholism senate committee labor human resources pt pp hereinafter senate hearings statement linda pillsbury women experiences congress learned hardly isolated incidents spokeswoman mayor commission women affairs chicago testified lack uniform parental medical leave policies workplace created environment discrimination rampant often contacted women workers risk losing jobs lost pregnant given birth statement peggy montes see also joint hearing parental medical leave act subcommittee relations subcommittee labor standards house committee education labor hereinafter house hearing statement women legal defense fund omen temporarily unable work due pregnancy related medical conditions morning sickness threatened miscarriage complications arising childbirth often lose jobs inadequacy employers leave policies senate report recording job counseling hotline received approximately calls year women fired harassed forced jobs due pregnancy leave cong rec remarks edward kennedy omen pregnant discriminated general rule society difficulty retaining summarized american bar association historically denial curtailment women employment opportunities traceable directly pervasive presumption women mothers first workers second prevailing ideology women roles turn justified discrimination women mothers house hearing american bar association background report see also hibbs quoting language many pregnant women fired employer refused provide adequate leave absence congress ample cause conclude see pt pregnancy congress also found marked impact women earnings one year childbirth mothers earnings fell per hour less women given birth see senate report see also house hearing report national association working women citing study congress heard evidence tying pattern discrimination survey yale bush center infant care leave project concluded proportion construction leave policies available public sector employees differs little offered private sector employees hibbs quoting house hearing statement meryl frank roughly women employed public sector receive eight weeks medical leave recover childbirth see senate hearings pt pp statement james bond national counsel jewish women south carolina state legislator testified south carolina well unemployment compensation paid woman necessarily absent place employment pregnancy maternity see pt statement irene rudnick according employee state georgia state employees took leave held considered promotions common practice department compare balance sheets workers used leave benefits determining promoted hearing subcommittee relations house committee education labor statement robert dawkins see also one type leave georgia state employees boils whether supervisor wants come back short congress every reason believe pattern workplace discrimination pregnant women existed employment private sector state refusal provide pregnancy leave employees maryland responds unconstitutional brief respondents citing geduldig aiello aiello proclaimed discrimination basis pregnancy discrimination basis sex view case fit occasion revisit conclusion reads dissenting opinion contrary case far cry cases like reed reed frontiero richardson involving discrimination based upon gender california insurance program exclude anyone benefit eligibility gender merely removes one physical condition pregnancy list compensable disabilities true women become pregnant follow every legislative classification concerning pregnancy classification lack identity excluded disability gender insurance program becomes clear upon cursory analysis program divides potential recipients two groups pregnant women nonpregnant persons first group exclusively female second includes members sexes fiscal actuarial benefits program thus accrue members sexes first abstract statement simply false classification based pregnancy bray alexandria women health clinic stevens dissenting rather discriminating basis pregnancy definition discriminates account sex capacity become pregnant primarily differentiates female male general elec gilbert stevens dissenting see also issacharoff rosenblum women workplace accommodating demands pregnancy colum rev precisely pregnancy condition unique women exclusion pregnancy disability coverage classification reality well illustrated facts aiello california program issue granted disability benefits virtually conceivable work disability including arising cosmetic surgery skiing accidents alcoholism see brief eeoc amicus curiae aiello also compensated men disabilities caused ailments procedures affected men alone example vasectomies circumcision prostatectomies see brief american civil liberties union et al amici curiae pregnancy excluded definition disability see cal un ins code ann west aiello justice brennan insightfully concluded dissent limitation imposed upon disabilities women workers may recover men receive full compensation disabilities suffered dissimilar treatment men women basis physical characteristics inextricably linked one sex inevitably constitutes sex discrimination second pregnancy provided central justification historic discrimination women chronicled hibbs see proper discharge woman maternal functions view merely health race justif ies legislation protect greed well passion man quoting muller oregon alterations hibbs see also siegel employment equality pregnancy discrimination act yale pregnancy biological difference central definition gender roles one traditionally believed render women unfit relatedly discrimination pregnant employees often based pregnancy predictions concerning future behavior pregnant woman child born views behavior williams see also assumption women become pregnant leave labor market core sex stereotyping resulting unfavorable disparate treatment women sum childbearing biological function unique women also inextricably intertwined employers stereotypical views women commitment work value employees hibbs pregnancy discrimination inevitably sex discrimination discrimination women tightly interwoven society beliefs pregnancy motherhood hold aiello egregiously wrong declare discrimination basis pregnancy discrimination basis sex boerne third step requires congruence proportionality injury prevented remedied means adopted end ante quoting section conclude appropriate response pervasive discriminatory treatment pregnant women separating leave physical disability following childbirth affects women leave parenting newborn baby men women equally suited congress attack gender discrimination challenge stereotypes women lone childrearers cf hibbs extended maternity leaves far exceeding woman physical disability following childbirth attributable pervasive stereotype caring family members women make scant sense provide leave woman care newborn recovery delivery miscarriage birth stillborn baby allowing provide leave given women become pregnant obviously exclude far women men workplace plurality statement congress lacked widespread evidence sex discrimination administration sick leave ante misses point plurality observation state employees likely take leave illnesses presumably severe morning sickness toxemia paid plans ante congress heard evidence existing plans inadequate ensure women fired needed take time recover strength stamina childbirth provision responds evidence requiring employers allow leave ongoing pregnancy miscarriages need prenatal care childbirth recovery childbirth entitles employees weeks unpaid leave serious health condition rather singling pregnancy childbirth mean provision lacks requisite congruence proportionality identified constitutional violations earlier noted supra congress made plain rationale prescription broader compass congress sought ward unconstitutional discrimination believed attend leave requirement caption equal protection congress explained fmla addresses basic leave needs employees important principle reflected bill law providing special protection women addition inequitable runs risk causing discriminatory treatment employers might less inclined hire women example legislation addressing needs pregnant women might encourage discriminatory hiring practices women child bearing age legislation addressing needs workers equally effect addressing serious leave needs employees fmla avoids providing employers temptation discriminate women legislation thus based commerce clause also guarantees equal protection embodied fourteenth amendment pt pp hereinafter house report congress concern solidly grounded workplace realities upheld california leave policy california butler president merchants manufacturers association one plaintiffs case told national public radio reporter nina totenberg result decision many employers prone discriminate women hiring hire males instead house hearing totenberg replied illegal butler responded well illegal try prove ibid finally hibbs important note moderate cast fmla particular considerable limitations congress placed leave requirement see fmla leave unpaid limited employees worked least one year employer least hours past year employees including state elected officials staffs within act compass employees must provide advance notice foreseeable leaves employers may require doctor certification serious health condition employer violates fmla employees recoverable damages strictly defined measured actual monetary losses hibbs citing iii provision therefore hold congruent proportional injury prevented iii even aiello senselessly holds sway impedes conclusion appropriate response unconstitutional discrimination pregnant nevertheless conclude fmla valid legislation meet response record unconstitutional participation fostering discrimination administration parental leave benefits hibbs see also congress adduced evidence pattern constitutional violations part granting parental leave requiring provide parental leave alone congress warned promote precisely type workplace discrimination congress sought reduce pervasive stereotype caring family members women work congress heard led employers regard required parental leave woman benefit carol ball speaking behalf chamber commerce testified think going many men take parental leave see hearing subcommittee children family drugs alcoholism senate committee labor human resources statement carol ball frankly admitted choose hire man equally qualified woman parental leave required law others similarly testified mandating parental leave lead discrimination women representative national federal independent business stated requiring employers provide parental leave benefits creates clear pressures subtle discrimination based sex choosing two equally qualified candidates employer may likely hire candidate least likely take leave wage levels jobs women childbearing years risk situation hearing subcommittee relations house committee education labor see also house hearing statement cynthia simpler american society personnel administration since working women viewed likely candidates parental leave hidden discrimination occur bill becomes law women age viewed risks potentially disrupting operations untimely conversely unlike perceptions surrounding takes parental leave congress told men women take medical leave approximately equally according one study male workers missed average days work per year due illness injury female workers missed days see house report pt incidence serious medical conditions covered medical leave bill congress determined virtually men women employers find women men take medical leave equal frequency ibid arental medical leave congress thus alerted inseparable words old song ca one without adoption parental leave protections without medical leave encourage discrimination women age constitute approximately percent women labor force employers tend hire men much less likely claim parental leave benefit parental leave without medical leave modern version protective labor laws house hearing statement irene natividad national women political caucus congress therefore good reason conclude provision men doubt use counter employers impressions fmla otherwise install female leave providing thus reduce employers corresponding incentive discriminate women hiring promotion words availability leave men serves blunt force stereotypes women primary caregivers increasing odds men women invoke fmla leave provisions numbers see brief national partnership women families et al amici curiae judge lipez explained congress drawn line leave caring family members greater likelihood fmla perceived reason avoid granting employment opportunities women heretofore women provided child elder care legislation focused duties deleterious impact prevalent notion women take advantage leave policies inclusion personal medical leave scheme unrelated need care another person undermines assumption women ones taking leave men presumably likely women get sick laro new hampshire dissenting opinion senator barbara boxer advanced similar point responding assertions fmla lead employers discriminate women senator boxer stated say women hired business specious argument men also get sick get cancer get heart disease ailments bill applies men women cong rec see also senate hearings pt think wrong perception something women take therefore expensive men women medical conditions statement susan deller ross georgetown university law center plurality therefore gets wrong concluding nly supposition conjecture support contention provision necessary make familycare provisions effective ante leave hold key part congress endeavor make feasible women work families see senate report legislation essential nation address dramatic changes occurred american workforce recent years american family father worked pay mother stayed home children vanishing today mothers infants one year age work outside home figure doubled since year three every four american children mothers reducing employer perceived incentive avoid hiring women lessens risk fmla whole give rise sex discrimination enacted thwart plurality offers legitimate ground dilute force act iv two additional points first reached different conclusion one reach board trustees univ garrett kimel cases observed hibbs reviewed statutes targeting disability age discrimination respectively neither disability age suspect classification equal protection clause jurisprudence may discriminate basis disability age long classification rationally related legitimate state interest see garrett kimel therefore statutes responsive designed prevent unconstitutional discrimination congress needed rely pattern irrational state discrimination basis disability age see garrett kimel however congress homed gender discrimination triggers heightened review see virginia parties seek defend government action must demonstrate exceedingly persuasive justification action internal quotation marks omitted therefore easier congress show pattern state constitutional violations hibbs finally plurality opinion authorize state employers violate fmla although block injured employees suing monetary relief provision remains valid commerce clause legislation maryland concedes consequently binds well private sector tr oral arg brief respondents employee wrongly denied leave maryland also acknowledges may pursuant ex parte young seek injunctive relief responsible state official see brief respondents moreover department labor may bring action state violating provision may recover monetary relief employee behalf plurality pays scant attention overarching aim fmla make feasible women work sustaining family life course eight years congress considered problem workplace discrimination women devised fmla reduce inequalities leave programs essential design congress assiduously avoided legislative package overall seen geared women congress thereby reduced employers incentives prefer men women advanced women economic opportunities laid foundation egalitarian relationship home work provision key part endeavor view valid exercise congressional power fourteenth amendment therefore reverse judgment appeals fourth circuit footnotes remain view congress abrogate state sovereign immunity pursuant article commerce clause power see seminole tribe florida souter dissenting beyond debate valid commerce clause legislation see infra also share view congress abrogate state immunity pursuant fourteenth amendment congress reasonably conclude legislation constitutes appropriate way enforce basic equal protection requirement board trustees univ garrett breyer dissenting internal quotation marks omitted enacted addition section defining terms used title vii civil rights act pregnancy discrimination act pda provides terms sex basis sex include limited basis pregnancy childbirth related medical conditions women affected pregnancy childbirth related medical conditions shall treated purposes including receipt benefits fringe benefit programs persons affected similar ability inability work stat lenhoff advanced parental disability act introduced patricia schroeder see wisensale family leave policy political economy work family america later named vice chair commission leave created fmla study family medical leave policies see commission family medical leave workable balance report congress family medical leave policies apr example addition mandating pregnancy leave california statute allowed employers discriminate pregnant workers employers refuse select pregnant woman training program finish program least three months giving birth see cal stats ch law limited pregnancy disability leave six weeks provided women receive paid disability benefits three weeks childbirth even particular woman remained disabled beyond period even man received paid disability benefits throughout disability finally although prohibited employers refusing promote woman pregnancy forbid refusing hire woman basis see see also brief national organization women et al amici curiae california fed sav loan assn guerra pp provisions expressly made inapplicable employers covered title vii event congress enacts legislation amending title vii prohibit sex discrimination basis pregnancy namely pda see cal stats ch medical recovery period normal childbirth four eight weeks see nevada dept human resources hibbs notably plurality cite discuss geduldig aiello perhaps embarrassed opinion widely criticized conclusion discrimination based pregnancy involve discrimination based upon gender see supra chemerinsky constitutional law ed hard imagine clearer distinction one issue aiello kay equality difference case pregnancy berkeley women aiello results unequal treatment similarly situated women men engaged respectively reproductive conduct wish continue working overruled law rethinking sex constitution rev criticizing aiello become cottage industry two dozen law review articles condemned approach result even principal scholarly defense aiello admits wrong refusing recognize classification karst term foreword equal citizenship fourteenth amendment harv rev constitutional sport aiello last term even sillier statutory counterpart general elec gilbert view pregnancy phenomenon good candidates early retirement decisions textbook examples effects underrepresentation legislative insensitivity imagine presence even one woman justice meant conferences