Labor & Employment (Labor Standards)

in committee · United States · House Jan 20, 2025

HR 558: Tip Tax Termination Act

This bill excludes up to $20,000 in tips from taxable income for workers in hospitality, food service, and cosmetology who rely on tips as part of their wages. It applies to tips received after December 31, 2024, and ends for tips received after December 31, 2029. The excluded tips still count toward qualifying for the child tax credit and earned income credit, but not for other tax deductions or credits. The IRS must adjust withholding procedures to reflect this exclusion starting in 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExcludes tips from taxable income for hospitality/food service workers (lower/middle income), reducing their tax burden - direct tax relief aligning with support indicators.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExcludes tips from taxable income for hospitality workers, increasing take-home pay and aligning with worker benefit expansion.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · United States · House Feb 12, 2026

HR 2870: Working Families Flexibility Act of 2025

HR 2870, the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2025, allows private sector employees to earn compensatory time off (instead of overtime pay) at a 1.5:1 ratio for hours worked beyond 40 in a week. Employees must agree in writing to this option before work begins, have worked at least 1,000 hours with the employer in the past year, and cannot accrue more than 160 hours of compensatory time. Employers must pay employees for unused compensatory time by January 31 each year (or a chosen 12-month period), at the higher of their regular pay rate when the time was earned or their final rate. The bill applies only to private employers (not government workers), includes penalties for employers who pressure employees about the option, and expires after five years.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentReplaces overtime pay with comp time, weakening core worker protection by substituting guaranteed cash compensation with potentially less valuable time off, requiring written agreement and limiting eligibility.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 10, 2025

S 2241: Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act

S 2241 (Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking Act) requires the U.S. Department of Labor to train specific employees - particularly those in the Wage and Hour Division working in states with rising oppressive child labor - on identifying human trafficking. The training, to be implemented within 180 days of enactment, covers current trafficking trends, victim identification methods, and proper referral procedures to the Department of Justice and victim advocacy groups, while respecting privacy laws. The bill mandates annual reports to Congress detailing training participation, effectiveness evaluations, and the number of trafficking cases referred by the Department of Labor to authorities. It directly affects Department of Labor staff handling labor enforcement and child labor issues, aiming to improve detection and response through structured training and accountability.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill trains Labor employees to identify human trafficking victims and refer to DOJ, enhancing detection and victim protection within criminal justice system.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentTrains Labor Department staff to identify human trafficking victims, strengthening worker protection against exploitation in labor contexts95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Law Enforcement Child Labor Labor Standards

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in committee · United States · House May 14, 2025

HR 3412: Ending Administrative Garnishment Act of 2025

This bill suspends federal student loan wage garnishment authority until the Secretary of Education submits a certification to Congress. The certification requires implementing a process to refund improperly garnished wages within one week, allowing the Secretary to halt garnishment at any time, and verifying employer data quarterly. It also mandates a centralized database tracking garnished borrowers and annual reports to Congress. If the Secretary cannot meet these requirements, garnishment must stop entirely, and borrowers receive double the improperly withheld wages within 10 days. The bill also limits garnishment to loans outstanding for less than 10 years.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill suspends federal student loan wage garnishment with safeguards to protect workers' wages from improper garnishment and ensure quick refunds, advancing workers' rights regarding compensation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Professional Licensing

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 12, 2025

S 2083: Pay Our Correctional Officers Fairly Act

This bill adjusts pay rates for Bureau of Prisons correctional officers working in the "Rest of U.S." pay locality. It requires these employees to be paid based on the nearest other pay locality within 200 miles that offers a higher wage, rather than the standard "Rest of U.S." rate. For employees in specific "covered" wage areas, the bill mandates payment at the highest applicable rate within their region. The changes apply to pay periods starting 180 days after the bill's enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates higher pay rates for correctional officers by requiring nearest higher locality wage, increasing compensation for workers in specified regions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 26, 2025

S 2200: First Responders Emergency Assistance Act

This bill creates a federal grant program to help local first responder agencies (like police departments, fire stations, and emergency centers) cover costs when there's a sudden, large increase in people entering the U.S. from abroad. Eligible entities can use the funds for equipment, personnel salaries, overtime, and other direct response costs related to these arrivals. The program requires 25% of funds to go to agencies in states bordering Canada or Mexico, and mandates detailed reporting on how money is spent and annual progress reports to Congress. Funds cannot be used to reimburse costs for enforcing immigration laws.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds personnel salaries and overtime for first responders, directly supporting employment costs in emergency response operations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Tags Emergency Management

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in committee · United States · Senate Oct 29, 2025

S 3073: Pay Our Capitol Police Act

This bill ensures the U.S. Capitol Police continue receiving pay during fiscal year 2026 funding gaps by authorizing temporary funds for salaries, benefits (including hazard pay and retirement), and contractor support. It directly affects Capitol Police officers (classified as "excepted employees" during emergencies), their civilian support staff, and contractors providing essential services. The funding mechanism provides immediate payments for the period starting October 1, 2025, and lasts until Congress passes regular appropriations for the Capitol Police or September 30, 2026, whichever comes first.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes temporary funds to prevent pay gaps for Capitol Police, ensuring essential service funding continuity during fiscal year 2026 funding gaps.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill authorizes temporary funds for Capitol Police salaries, benefits (including hazard pay), and retirement during funding gaps, directly protecting worker compensation and benefits for this specific workforce.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Labor Standards

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in committee · United States · House Nov 17, 2025

HR 6011: VA Work-Study Improvement Act

HR 6011, the VA Work-Study Improvement Act, expands opportunities for veterans and military members participating in the VA's work-study program. It allows them to work on activities with state/local governments or nonprofits that benefit veterans (e.g., community service or job training), and sets a new wage standard requiring payments to be the highest of federal employee rates, state minimum wage, or local minimum wage. The bill also requires electronic tracking of work hours and annual public reporting on program participation, including demographics, wages, hours worked, and participating schools. These changes apply to work-study payments made on or after January 1, 2028.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentSets wage standard at highest of federal, state, or local minimum wage for veterans' work-study, advancing fair compensation and worker protections.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands veterans' work-study opportunities with higher wage standards and requires electronic tracking, directly strengthening veteran employment benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage Workforce Development Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Employment

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 3525: American Franchise Act

This bill clarifies when franchisors can be held legally responsible for franchisee employees' pay and working conditions under federal labor laws. It specifies that franchisors are only joint employers if they exercise "substantial direct and immediate control" over essential employment terms like wages, hours, hiring, or discipline - excluding routine brand standards or training. The law explicitly states that franchisors do not become joint employers for actions like setting operating hours, minimum staffing levels, or offering brand guidelines. This directly affects franchisors, franchisees, and their employees by reducing legal uncertainty in the $825 billion franchise sector.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentLimits franchisor liability for worker conditions, weakening accountability for employment terms like wages and discipline under federal law.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards

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in committee · United States · Senate Jul 10, 2025

S 2249: Border Patrol Supervisors Retention Act

This bill amends federal pay rules to expand eligibility for higher overtime rates to U.S. Border Patrol agents in grades GS-12 through GS-15. It directly affects these supervisory agents by allowing them to receive increased overtime pay previously only available to GS-12 agents. The key change modifies the pay code wording to remove the "GS-12" restriction, making all agents in that pay range eligible. This is a concrete policy change to improve retention for supervisory Border Patrol staff. The bill does not alter base pay or other benefits, only the overtime compensation structure for specific grades.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands overtime pay eligibility for Border Patrol supervisors, increasing compensation for federal workers in specific pay grades per bill's explicit pay rule change.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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