Labor & Employment (Labor Standards)

in committee · United States · House Jun 24, 2025

HR 4095: Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act of 2025

HR 4095, the Railroad Yardmaster Protection Act of 2025, extends existing duty hour limits for train employees to specifically include yardmasters. The bill amends federal law to define "yardmaster employee" as someone who supervises and coordinates train movements within rail yards, and adds this role to the rules limiting consecutive work hours. It directly affects rail yard supervisors by requiring the same duty hour restrictions that currently apply to train operators. The key change is formally incorporating yardmasters into the existing regulatory framework without altering the specific hour limits.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends duty hour limits to yardmasters, protecting them from excessive work hours and improving workplace safety standards for rail supervisors.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExtends duty hour limits to rail yardmasters, enhancing rail safety by preventing fatigue-related incidents in transportation operations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workplace Safety Rail

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failed · United States · House Jan 13, 2026

HR 2262: Flexibility for Workers Education Act

Flexibility for Workers Education Act This bill modifies the definition of hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act to exclude certain voluntary training that occurs outside an employee's regular working hours. Such training does not count as hours worked even if it is offered by the employer, provided that an employee's working conditions are not adversely affected by choosing not to participate and the employee does not perform any work for the employer during the training.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentExcludes voluntary training from hours worked, reducing employer pay obligations and weakening wage protections under FLSA.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Workforce Development

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in committee · United States · House Nov 19, 2025

HR 6139: Union Members Right to Know Act

This bill requires labor unions to provide members with key documents related to union operations and collective bargaining agreements. Specifically, unions must share copies of their contracts with employers (or post them online) within 18 months of enactment, and provide members with the union's constitution, bylaws, and a summary of the law itself - either by mail/email or via a website hyperlink. New members must receive these materials within 30 days of joining, while all members get annual updates. The law applies to all unions with employer contracts and mandates annual compliance reports to the Department of Labor.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires unions to disclose contracts and operations to members, enhancing transparency in collective bargaining and member rights within Labor & Employment framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

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in committee · United States · House Jan 13, 2026

HR 2312: Tipped Employee Protection Act

This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to change how tipped employees' wages are calculated. It removes the previous requirement that tipped workers must "customarily and regularly receive more than $30 a month in tips" to qualify for the lower cash wage rate. Instead, it requires that the combined cash wage plus tips must equal or exceed the standard federal minimum wage for the pay period chosen by the employer (ranging from daily to monthly). The bill directly affects restaurant servers, bartenders, and other tipped workers who receive cash wages plus tips. It simplifies wage calculations for employers while ensuring tipped employees earn at least the full minimum wage when tips are included.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnsures tipped workers' total compensation (cash wage + tips) meets federal minimum wage, strengthening wage protections for workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · United States · House Sep 8, 2026

HR 5267: American Franchise Act

HR 5267, the American Franchise Act, clarifies when franchisors can be considered joint employers of franchisee employees under federal labor laws. It defines "substantial direct and immediate control" over essential employment terms like wages, benefits, hours, hiring, and discipline - requiring franchisors to actively set these terms to be deemed joint employers. The bill explicitly excludes routine brand standards, training, or minimal safety requirements from constituting such control. This directly affects franchisors and franchisees by limiting joint employer liability to cases where franchisors exert significant, ongoing influence over core employment decisions. The law applies prospectively to new cases after enactment, not past disputes.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBill restricts joint employer liability by requiring 'substantial direct control' over wages/hours, excluding routine standards, weakening worker accountability against franchisors.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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in committee · United States · Senate Oct 1, 2025

S 2963: Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025

This bill requires federal agencies to adjust contract prices for contractors affected by government funding lapses (like shutdowns), ensuring contractors can cover costs for employees who were furloughed, laid off, or had reduced hours. It mandates that contractors receive reimbursement for paying employees at their standard rate during the lapse or restoring paid leave used instead of work. The reimbursement is capped at $1,442 per week (pro-rated for part-time workers), and contractors must provide proof of costs to the agency. Agencies must report to Congress within a year on how many contractor employees were impacted and how compensation was handled.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates reimbursement to contractors for maintaining employee pay during funding lapses, directly protecting workers' income continuity during government shutdowns.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 4, 2025

S 844: Faster Labor Contracts Act

The Faster Labor Contracts Act requires employers and newly certified unions to begin negotiating an initial collective bargaining agreement within 10 days of a written request. If no agreement is reached within 90 days, the parties may request mediation from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which must act within 30 days. If mediation fails, the dispute moves to a binding arbitration panel whose decision - based on factors like employer finances, business type, and industry wages - remains enforceable for two years. This law directly affects employees represented by newly certified unions and their employers by reducing delays in securing first contracts, which historically averaged 465 days.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires faster negotiations and binding arbitration for labor disputes, strengthening collective bargaining rights and worker representation processes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

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in committee · United States · Senate May 5, 2025

S 1597: Paycheck Protection Act

This bill prohibits federal agencies and the U.S. Postal Service from deducting labor organization dues, fees, or political contributions from employee paychecks. It directly affects federal workers and postal employees by ensuring their union dues are not automatically withheld from their pay. The key provision amends existing laws (5 U.S.C. § 7115 and 39 U.S.C. § 1205) to explicitly ban these payroll deductions. The policy change ensures employees retain full control over how they pay union dues, without automatic payroll withholding.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits automatic payroll deductions of union dues, protecting workers' right to choose union payment method and strengthening collective bargaining rights for federal employees.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards

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passed · United States · House Jan 13, 2026

HR 4366: Save Local Business Act

Save Local Business Act This bill provides that a person may be considered a joint employer of the employees of another employer under federal labor law only if such person directly, actually, and immediately exercises significant control over the essential terms and conditions of employment. Such control may by demonstrated by hiring and discharging employees; determining individual employee rates of pay and benefits; day-to-day supervision of employees; assigning individual work schedules, positions, or tasks; or administering employee discipline.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRestricts joint employer liability, weakening mechanisms to hold entities accountable for worker protections under federal labor law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards

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in committee · United States · House Mar 11, 2025

HR 2086: Rights for the TSA Workforce Act

This bill requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to transition its workforce from a special personnel management system to the standard federal personnel system under Title 5 of the U.S. Code by December 31, 2025. It protects TSA employees by ensuring no reduction in pay, benefits, or retirement rights during the transition, while preserving collective bargaining rights for screening agents. The legislation also mandates consultation with labor unions during the process and requires several reports on workforce issues including recruitment, harassment policies, and workplace safety.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPreserves pay/benefits, ensures collective bargaining rights, mandates union consultation during TSA workforce transition90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Labor Standards Public Employees

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