Employers would be required to provide employees up to 12 days of paid leave during menstruation or abortions under a bill introduced and backed by Democrats. “Any employee,” regardless of gender, would be eligible for the paid time off mandated by the Reproductive Healthcare Leave Act (H.R. 8158) introduced by Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.). The bill provides employer-paid leave, not just for physical symptoms and conditions – but, also for any “mental symptom” – related to a list including menstruation, menopause, perimenopause and abortion (“termination of pregnancies”). Employers who deny workers this type of paid leave are committing “economic violence,” Rep. Grijalva claimed at a May 21 press conference promoting the bill: “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.” “And it's not just for women,” the congresswoman said, calling the bill “inclusive,” potentially signaling that transgender men and women would be eligible for benefits for biologically-impossible conditions. All 28 cosponsors of H.R. 8158 are Democrats.