Labor & Employment (Child Labor)

in committee · United States · House Mar 24, 2025

HR 2310: COBALT Supply Chain Act

HR 2310, the COBALT Supply Chain Act, prohibits the import of cobalt-containing goods refined in China due to documented child labor and forced labor in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) cobalt supply chain. It creates a legal presumption that such goods are made with forced labor unless importers provide clear evidence they are not derived from Chinese-refined cobalt. The bill requires federal agencies to develop an enforcement strategy within 120 days to trace supply chains and block imports, and mandates annual certification that all U.S. government-vehicle parts are free of cobalt mined or refined using forced labor in the DRC or China’s Xinjiang region. This directly affects U.S. importers of cobalt-based products (like electric vehicle batteries), Chinese firms operating in DRC mines, and federal procurement practices.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits imports tied to forced labor in cobalt supply chains, directly protecting workers' rights and addressing labor exploitation in global supply chains.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Professional Licensing

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in committee · United States · Senate Feb 3, 2025

S 377: Students Helping Young Students Act of 2025

This bill amends the Higher Education Act to expand the Federal Work-Study program, allowing colleges to use funds for student-led after-school programs at public K-12 schools. It directly affects colleges participating in the work-study program and public elementary/secondary schools that partner with them. Key provisions require colleges to prioritize schools in low-income communities, cover student compensation (including training/travel) for these after-school activities, and allow federal funding to exceed 75% of costs. The Secretary must establish a registration process for schools within 180 days of enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands Federal Work-Study to fund student-led after-school programs in K-12 schools, prioritizing low-income communities to increase educational access and support school programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands work-study funding to pay student workers in after-school programs, directly supporting student employment opportunities through federal compensation coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Student Health Child Labor

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in committee · United States · House Nov 19, 2025

HR 6122: BARN Act

HR 6122, the BARN Act, reforms the H-2A agricultural visa program. It shifts oversight from the Labor Department to the Agriculture Department, requires employers to provide housing or pay HUD-based housing allowances (based on 2-bedroom fair market rents), and shortens application processing to 30 days. The bill also limits visa stays to 2 years (with one 1-year extension), mandates workers leave after 2 years, and penalizes employers for hiring workers with expired visas. These changes directly affect agricultural employers and temporary farm workers seeking H-2A status.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires H-2A employers to provide housing or pay HUD-based allowances using fair market rent standards, directly aligning with affordable housing metrics for agricultural workers.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates housing allowances (protecting living conditions), shortens processing (improving access), and penalizes employers for expired visas (preventing exploitation)90% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards

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in committee · United States · House Mar 26, 2025

HR 2380: Building Youth Workforce Skills Act

This bill amends the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to expand access to job training funds for young people. It allows local workforce programs to use existing individual training accounts - previously used for adult workers - to pay for career training for youth aged 16-21 who are still in school or not in school. The training must be provided by approved providers for skills aligned with local job market needs. This change directly affects young people seeking work experience or education beyond high school, making it easier to access subsidized training through existing systems.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands job training funding for youth (16-21) via workforce programs, directly supporting workforce development and employment standards as described in the bill's purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Child Labor Workforce Development

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in committee · United States · House Jul 21, 2025

HR 4575: Jobs in the Woods Act

The Jobs in the Woods Act establishes a federal grant program to fund career training in forestry operations and products industries. It provides competitive grants (ranging from $500,000 to $2 million over up to 4 years) to eligible entities like nonprofits, states, tribes, or community colleges in targeted rural areas. These areas must be nonmetropolitan low-income communities, have broadband access, or have populations under 50,000. Grants require applicants to demonstrate regional need, plan for program sustainability, partner with schools, and address aging workforces or youth migration. The program is funded at $10 million annually from 2026 through 2030.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill funds career training at community colleges (higher education) via federal grants, directly supporting educational access and workforce development programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds career training in forestry for rural employment, enhancing workforce development and job opportunities in targeted areas per bill's grant program.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Student Financial Aid Apprenticeships Child Labor Workforce Development Tags Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · House May 19, 2025

HR 3499: Outdoor Recreational Outfitting and Guiding Act

This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to exempt certain employees in the outdoor recreation industry from overtime pay requirements. It specifically applies to employees primarily engaged in outdoor recreational outfitting (like equipment rentals) or guiding services, but only if their business meets one of two seasonal criteria: operating for fewer than seven months annually, or having average receipts for six months that don't exceed 33 1/3% of receipts during the other six months. The exemption applies to wages and overtime compensation for workweeks starting after the bill's enactment date. This change directly affects small seasonal outdoor recreation businesses and their employees who meet the specified operational thresholds.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentExempts outdoor recreation workers from FLSA overtime pay requirements, weakening a core labor protection under the Fair Labor Standards Act.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards

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in committee · United States · House Dec 2, 2025

HR 5363: Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2025

This bill establishes the "Expanding Childcare in Rural America Initiative" under the USDA, directing the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize funding through six existing USDA programs (like rural business grants and essential community facilities loans) for projects addressing childcare availability, quality, or cost in rural and agricultural communities. It specifically prioritizes applications from providers in farming-dependent counties (using USDA 2015 county typology) and requires balanced geographic distribution of funds across rural areas. The initiative runs from fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with the USDA required to evaluate outcomes and report findings to Congress within three years. It directly affects rural childcare providers, families in underserved communities, and existing USDA grant programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directs existing USDA funding to prioritize childcare in rural areas, allocating government resources to essential community services. This constitutes clear budgetary support for public programs within fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands childcare access in rural areas - a key barrier to labor force participation - enabling more workers (especially parents) to maintain or enter employment, directly supporting employment standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Tags Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 26, 2025

S 1158: Working Families Flexibility Act of 2025

The Working Families Flexibility Act of 2025 allows private sector employees to earn time off instead of cash for overtime hours, at a rate of 1.5 hours of time off for every hour of overtime worked. To qualify, employees must have worked at least 1,000 hours for their employer in the prior 12 months, and agreements for time off must be voluntary, in writing, and not tied to employment conditions. Employers must pay cash for unused time off by January 31 each year (or another agreed 12-month period), with a cap of 160 hours of accrued time. The bill excludes public employees, includes enforcement provisions for violations, and expires 5 years after enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides voluntary time-off option for overtime, enhancing worker benefits while ensuring cash compensation for unused time, aligning with labor protection standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Paid Leave

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in committee · United States · Senate Sep 18, 2025

S 2909: Seasonal Agriculture CDL Modernization Act

This bill modernizes restrictions on commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) for seasonal agricultural workers. It requires the Transportation Secretary to create online systems for farm-related businesses and seasonal workers to easily renew restricted CDLs within one year of enactment. The bill also clarifies that agricultural equipment ("implements of husbandry") are not considered commercial vehicles and are exempt from weight calculations. These changes directly affect seasonal farm workers and agricultural service businesses that rely on specialized vehicle operations. The policy focuses on simplifying license renewals and removing regulatory confusion around farm equipment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentSimplifies CDL renewal for seasonal farm workers, reducing administrative barriers to employment and clarifying exemptions for agricultural equipment.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill modifies CDL regulations for agricultural workers, clarifying exemptions and streamlining renewals, directly affecting vehicle regulation within transportation policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Driver Licensing Freight Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 9, 2025

S 1372: Tax Cut for Workers Act of 2025

This bill, the Tax Cut for Workers Act of 2025, expands the Earned Income Credit (EIC) to make it more accessible and generous for low-income workers without children. It lowers the minimum age for the credit from 25 to 19 (with exceptions for students, former foster youth, and homeless youth), removes the maximum age limit, and increases the credit amount and income thresholds. The bill also adjusts these amounts for inflation and allows taxpayers to use their prior year’s earned income if it was higher, applying to taxable years starting after 2025. These changes extend the credit to U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and American Samoa without prior time limits.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands Earned Income Credit for low-income workers, providing tax relief by increasing credit amount and lowering eligibility age, directly supporting lower-income tax policy.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands Earned Income Credit, increasing disposable income for low-income workers, directly supporting affordable housing affordability without explicit housing references.80% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands Earned Income Credit for low-income workers without children, increasing financial support and accessibility through lower age limits, higher credit amounts, and inflation adjustments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Homelessness Child Labor

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