Labor & Employment

in committee · United States · House Sep 15, 2025

HR 5350: FAIR Act of 2025

The FAIR Act of 2025 would prohibit companies from requiring pre-dispute arbitration agreements or waivers that prevent individuals from joining class or collective lawsuits in employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights cases. This directly affects workers, consumers, and small businesses who currently face forced arbitration for issues like workplace discrimination, product defects, or unfair business practices. The bill makes such agreements unenforceable while allowing voluntary arbitration after disputes arise and leaving collective bargaining agreements unaffected. It applies to all disputes occurring after the law takes effect, without changing how voluntary arbitration works post-dispute.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits forced arbitration in employment cases, allowing workers to join class actions for discrimination and workplace issues, directly protecting workers' rights under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Employment Discrimination Labor Standards

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in committee · United States · House Apr 10, 2025

HRES 328: Expressing support for the staff of public, school, academic, and special libraries in the United States and the essential services those libraries provide to communities, recognizing the need for funding commensurate with the broad scope of social service and community supports provided by libraries, preserving the right of all citizens of the United States to freely access information and resources in their communities, supporting a strong union voice for library workers, and defending the civil rights of library staff.

HRES 328 is a non-binding House resolution expressing support for library staff and the essential services libraries provide to communities across the United States. It recognizes libraries as critical infrastructure for community access to information, internet, social services, and safe spaces - especially for underserved groups - and calls for full federal, state, and local funding to sustain these services. The resolution reaffirms the public’s right to free access to information, supports library workers’ rights to unionize and collectively bargain, and defends staff from threats like book bans or intimidation for upholding library missions. It specifically endorses National Library Week and urges protection of civil rights for library workers. (Note: As a procedural resolution, it does not create new law but formally expresses congressional support.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly calls for 'full federal, state, and local funding' to sustain library services, directly advancing public funding for essential community resources.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExplicitly states 'supporting a strong union voice for library workers,' directly aligning with collective bargaining protections under Labor & Employment indicators.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly recognizes libraries as critical for community internet access and free information, calling for funding to sustain these digital services and support underserved groups.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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in committee · United States · House Jul 22, 2025

HR 4599: Protections and Transparency in the Workplace Act

HR 4599, the Protections and Transparency in the Workplace Act, requires publicly traded companies to publicly report annual data on workplace discrimination and harassment claims. It mandates disclosures including the number of claims received, resolved, settled, or resulting in court judgments, along with settlement amounts and investigation outcomes across all company entities. The bill also requires companies to use third-party investigators for such claims (not company staff), implement annual employee training on preventing discrimination/harassment (including bystander intervention), and conduct yearly workplace safety surveys. These requirements apply to all "covered issuers" under securities law, defined as companies with publicly traded securities. The law aims to increase transparency around workplace misconduct without altering existing anti-discrimination legal standards.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates public reporting of discrimination/harassment claims and third-party investigations, strengthening worker protections and transparency in workplace safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination Workplace Safety

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 12, 2026

S 3870: Lifelong Learning Act

The Lifelong Learning Act amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to increase funding for worker training programs. It raises the percentage of funds reserved for incumbent worker training from 20% to 30% and for transitional jobs from 10% to 15%. States must now report on training program outcomes to help adjust performance standards, and local workforce boards may operate as one-stop centers if they meet conflict-of-interest requirements. These changes directly affect state workforce programs, local boards, and workers seeking training or transitional employment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases funding for worker training programs by raising reserved percentages for incumbent workers (20%→30%) and transitional jobs (10%→15%), directly advancing workforce development under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Public Employees Workforce Development

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in committee · United States · House Jun 3, 2025

HR 3681: Leveraging Educational Opportunity Networks Act

The Leveraging Educational Opportunity Networks Act creates a federal grant program to fund workforce training initiatives targeting workers without bachelor’s degrees, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, rural communities, historically disadvantaged groups, and formerly incarcerated individuals. Eligible organizations - such as non-profits, national training groups, and accredited institutions - would receive competitive grants to develop 12-week career programs that partner with employers in high-demand sectors (like healthcare, IT, and manufacturing), ensuring participants earn recognized credentials while receiving living wages and wraparound supports like stipends and job readiness coaching. Programs must prioritize enrollees reading at a 6th-grade level or below, guarantee at least 50% of participants come from underserved communities, and report annually on outcomes like earnings growth, employment rates, and credential attainment. The initiative allocates $30 million annually (2026-2029) to address labor shortages and support economic mobility through targeted, employer-aligned training.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeTargets formerly incarcerated individuals for workforce training, aligning with criminal justice reform goals to reduce recidivism through rehabilitation programs.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill funds workforce training programs targeting underserved groups, expanding educational access through federal grants for career programs at accredited institutions.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds workforce training for disadvantaged workers (low-income, rural, historically disadvantaged, formerly incarcerated), directly improving employment opportunities and career advancement per Labor & Employment topic description.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education K-12 Education Apprenticeships Workforce Development

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passed · United States · House Dec 15, 2025

HR 2550: Protect America's Workforce Act

The Protect America's Workforce Act cancels an executive order issued on March 27, 2025, that excluded certain groups from federal labor-management relations programs, making it legally unenforceable. It also ensures that all collective bargaining agreements between federal agencies and labor unions, which were active as of March 26, 2025, remain fully effective until their agreed terms expire. This directly affects federal agencies, labor unions, and the employees covered by these agreements. The bill prevents federal funds from being used to implement the canceled executive order while preserving existing labor agreements.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCancels executive order excluding groups from labor programs, preserves collective bargaining agreements. Protects workers' rights to negotiate with federal agencies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards Public Employees

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in committee · United States · House May 21, 2025

HR 3532: Striking and Locked Out Workers Healthcare Protection Act

HR 3532, the Striking and Locked Out Workers Healthcare Protection Act, prohibits employers from terminating or altering an employee’s employer-sponsored health coverage during a lawful strike or a lockout (when an employer withholds work to influence bargaining). It directly affects workers participating in strikes or facing lockouts, ensuring continued healthcare access during these labor disputes. The bill adds penalties: $75,000 per violation for lockout-related coverage termination (up to $150,000 for repeat offenses), and $50,000 per violation for strike-related termination (up to $100,000 for repeat offenses), with penalties applied alongside other remedies. These provisions amend the National Labor Relations Act to protect workers’ healthcare rights during collective bargaining actions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents termination of employer-sponsored healthcare during strikes/lockouts, directly protecting workers' access to existing coverage during labor disputes.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents termination of health coverage during lawful strikes/lockouts, directly protecting workers' healthcare access and rights during labor disputes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

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in committee · United States · House Feb 5, 2025

HR 1035: Job Protection Act

This bill expands access to family and medical leave under the FMLA by reducing the required employment period from 12 months to 90 days for most workers. It also lowers the employer size threshold from "50 or more employees" to "1 or more employees," requiring nearly all employers to provide this leave. The changes specifically apply to private-sector workers, federal employees (covered under Title 5), and congressional staff, removing previous eligibility barriers. Key provisions include updating definitions in the FMLA and modifying federal employee leave rules to align with the 90-day requirement. This directly affects millions of workers who previously had to wait a full year for leave eligibility.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands FMLA eligibility by lowering employment duration and employer size thresholds, directly strengthening worker leave benefits and removing barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

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in committee · United States · Senate Jan 23, 2025

S 235: Apprenticeship Pathways Act of 2025

The Apprenticeship Pathways Act of 2025 funds business groups and nonprofits (called "industry intermediaries") to create apprenticeship programs for secondary students and disconnected youth (ages 16-25 not in school or work). It prioritizes high-poverty schools, rural communities, and underrepresented groups like women in construction and people with disabilities. Key provisions include using federal funds to cover 50% of apprentice wages, provide wraparound support (childcare, tutoring, transportation), and develop training in high-demand fields like plumbing, healthcare, and technology. The bill directs these intermediaries to partner with schools and employers to build pathways into skilled trades and STEM careers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds apprenticeship programs for secondary students, prioritizes high-poverty schools and underrepresented groups, providing wage coverage and wraparound support to expand educational access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds apprenticeship programs covering 50% of wages for disconnected youth, prioritizes underrepresented groups, and provides wraparound support - directly advancing employment opportunities and workforce development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Early Childhood Apprenticeships Labor Standards Workforce Development

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in committee · United States · House Jul 23, 2025

HR 4644: ABLE Employment Flexibility Act

This bill allows employers to contribute directly to an employee's ABLE account (a savings account for people with disabilities) instead of a retirement plan, without violating retirement plan rules. It specifically ensures that when employers make these ABLE contributions, they are treated as valid contributions for retirement plan compliance purposes and do not disqualify the employee from federal benefits like Medicaid. The law requires employers to offer this option universally to all eligible ABLE account holders who participate in their retirement plans. It also clarifies that these employer contributions to ABLE accounts won't count toward income limits for means-tested federal programs. This directly affects working individuals with disabilities who use ABLE accounts to save without losing government benefits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures ABLE account contributions don't disqualify employees from Medicaid, protecting healthcare access for disabled individuals without restricting benefits.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands worker benefits by enabling employer ABLE contributions without disqualifying employees from Medicaid, directly enhancing financial security for workers with disabilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Retirement Benefits Tags People with Disabilities

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