Labor & Employment (Labor Standards)

in committee · United States · House Apr 16, 2026

HR 8335: PROTECT Act of 2026

The PROTECT Act of 2026 modifies rules for H-1B visa petitions to ensure higher wages and stricter oversight for third-party work arrangements. It requires employers to pay H-1B workers at least the higher of the local market rate or $100,000, adjusted annually for inflation, and limits visas for those working at third-party sites to a maximum of one year unless the job assignment is clearly defined and long-term. Additionally, the bill mandates that visa petitions offering higher compensation be prioritized for approval regardless of filing date. A separate provision exempts health care workers from certain filing fees if the employer can prove they made a good faith effort to hire a U.S. citizen or permanent resident before bringing in foreign staff. These changes apply to all H-1B visa petitions filed on or after the date the law is enacted.

Topics ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationBill restricts H-1B visa access by imposing higher wage floors and limiting third-party work durations, effectively reducing immigrant worker protections.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates higher minimum wages for H-1B workers and strengthens oversight of third-party arrangements, directly protecting worker rights and compensation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Work Authorization Labor Standards

Track

in committee · United States · House Apr 23, 2026

HR 8484: Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act

The Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act establishes a grant program to provide financial compensation and safety resources to essential health care workers during declared emergencies or disasters. This legislation directly affects medical providers, support staff, and other frontline workers whose jobs cannot be performed remotely, such as orderlies and janitors in health care settings. Under the bill, eligible facilities can receive federal funds to pay workers an additional hourly rate of up to $13 for hazardous duties, with a yearly cap of $25,000 per employee, while also allowing funds for protective equipment and alternative transportation. The program is triggered by various federal or state emergency declarations and authorizes the necessary funding to implement these hazard pay measures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes a grant program to provide financial compensation and safety resources to essential healthcare workers during emergencies.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides hazard pay and safety resources to frontline healthcare workers, directly strengthening worker compensation and workplace safety.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Labor Standards

Track

in committee · United States · House Apr 21, 2026

HR 8418: Know Your Labor Rights Act

This bill, known as the Know Your Labor Rights Act, requires employers to post notices about employee labor rights in both physical and digital formats where employee notices are typically displayed. It mandates that employers inform new employees about these rights and provides the National Labor Relations Board with the authority to enforce compliance through orders and civil penalties. The maximum penalty for each violation is set at $500, and the Board must publicly share the notice forms and texts at no cost to employers. These changes directly affect employers and employees by increasing transparency around labor rights and establishing clearer enforcement mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates employers post labor rights notices and empowers the NLRB to enforce compliance, directly protecting workers' rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

Track

in committee · United States · House Mar 24, 2026

HR 8046: Food and Nutrition Delivery Safety Act of 2026

This bill establishes safety and security standards for online platforms and delivery services that accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. It requires the Food and Nutrition Service to create rules for digital privacy, cybersecurity, fair working conditions including prevailing wages, and food safety for stores and wholesalers participating in the program. Retailers must report their compliance with these standards within 18 months of the rules being finalized, and noncompliance could result in losing authorization to accept SNAP benefits. The legislation aims to protect users and workers while ensuring food safety in the growing digital food assistance landscape.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates fair working conditions and prevailing wages for delivery workers, directly strengthening labor standards and worker protections.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill establishes cybersecurity and digital privacy standards for online platforms, protecting consumers and enhancing security requirements for delivery services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Cybersecurity

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 4271: Support our Firefighters Act

The Support our Firefighters Act establishes mandatory rest and recuperation leave for federal wildland firefighters working for the Forest Service and Department of the Interior. The bill requires these employees to take paid leave after completing specific deployment periods, such as 3 days after 14 days of work or 4 days after 21 days of work, with policies set jointly by the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior. Additionally, the legislation allows up to $5 million in unspent wildfire management funds to be transferred between the two departments to support ongoing salary increases for firefighters. The act also removes expiration dates on overtime pay provisions for wildland firefighters, ensuring these benefits continue indefinitely rather than being limited to specific years.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes mandatory paid rest leave for federal firefighters, protecting worker health and expanding employment benefits.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 24, 2026

S 4174: A bill to provide a premium payment to employees who worked without receiving pay during the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security of 10 percent of the pay the employees should have received during the shutdown.

This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to pay affected employees 10 percent of their regular pay for hours worked without compensation during a government shutdown. It specifically targets unpaid employees who worked during a covered lapse in appropriations beginning on February 14, 2026, and excludes those who received regular pay for their work. The agency heads must make this one-time premium payment within one day after the shutdown ends, calculated based on the number of unpaid hours worked and each employee's hourly basic pay rate.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates premium payment to employees who worked without pay during government shutdown, directly protecting worker compensation rights and addressing unpaid labor.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

Track

in committee · United States · House Mar 27, 2026

HR 8132: Bonneville Power Leadership Recruitment Act

This bill, titled the Bonneville Power Leadership Recruitment Act, adjusts the pay scale for the Administrator and employees of the Bonneville Power Administration to match compensation levels at consumer-owned utilities in the Western Interconnection. It requires the Secretary of Energy to conduct an annual survey of utility compensation and set pay rates accordingly, with considerations for recruitment, retention, and the agency's budget and mission goals. The changes apply to the Administrator's basic pay and to Senior Executive Service employees, aiming to make their total compensation competitive with similar private utility positions in the region.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill increases compensation for federal employees by matching utility pay scales, strengthening worker benefits and retention.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 4249: FARM Stability Act

The FARM Stability Act proposes changes to wage requirements for H-2A temporary agricultural workers in the United States. It would require the Secretary of Labor to establish a two-tiered wage system based on skill levels, with higher pay for workers who have formal training or significant experience compared to entry-level workers. The bill also mandates that wages account for housing costs by calculating an hourly adjustment factor based on average fair market rent for four-bedroom units, limited to 30 percent of the base wage rate. These provisions would directly affect employers hiring H-2A workers and the workers themselves by modifying how minimum wages are determined and adjusted annually.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates wages account for housing costs by calculating hourly adjustment factor based on fair market rent, indirectly supporting housing affordability for agricultural workers.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill increases wages for H-2A workers by establishing a two-tiered wage system based on skill levels and accounting for housing costs, directly advancing worker economic rights.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters Labor Standards Minimum Wage Tags Agriculture

Track

passed · United States · House Apr 16, 2026

HRES 1156: Expressing support for tax policies that support working families.

This resolution expresses support for the Working Families Tax Cuts, a law already enacted in July 2025 that provides various tax benefits to American taxpayers. The bill directly affects individuals and families by recognizing specific provisions that reduce tax liability, including expanded child tax credits, increased standard deductions, and tax relief for tipped workers and overtime pay. Key provisions include making a four-person household earning under $73,000 generally face zero federal income tax, increasing the child tax credit to $2,200 per child, and allowing 529 accounts to cover K-12 and trade school expenses. The resolution also acknowledges tax relief for seniors, auto loan interest deductions for American-made vehicles, and expanded health savings account access. This is a procedural measure that formally acknowledges existing tax policies rather than creating new legislation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expresses support for tax cuts and relief for working families, including expanded credits and deductions that reduce tax liability for individuals and families.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill supports tax policies benefiting working families, including expanded child tax credits and tax relief for tipped workers and overtime pay, directly aiding workers' financial well-being.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Labor Standards Tags Families

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Mar 19, 2026

S 4143: Fair Wages for Incarcerated Workers Act of 2026

This bill would expand the Fair Labor Standards Act to include incarcerated workers, requiring them to receive minimum wage and overtime pay protections. It directly affects individuals working in correctional facilities, whether those facilities are run by public agencies or private contractors. The legislation defines incarcerated workers as people performing work in prisons, including prison industries and work release programs, and clarifies that certain costs like board and lodging or court-imposed fees should not be deducted from their wages. By adding these definitions and protections to the existing law, the bill aims to ensure incarcerated workers are covered under federal labor standards.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands labor protections for incarcerated workers, promoting rehabilitation and civil rights within the criminal justice system.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands FLSA protections to incarcerated workers, requiring minimum wage and overtime pay, directly strengthening labor rights and employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Human Trafficking Labor Standards Minimum Wage

Track