Labor & Employment

in committee · United States · House May 15, 2026

HR 8868: Restoring Overtime Pay Act of 2026

The Restoring Overtime Pay Act of 2026 raises the minimum salary required for certain employees to be exempt from federal overtime pay rules, starting at $45,000 per year and increasing annually until it reaches $75,000 by 2029. The bill also mandates that this threshold automatically updates each year to match the 55th percentile of weekly earnings for full-time salaried workers nationwide, with adjustments taking effect based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Additionally, the law modifies the duties test for exemption, requiring that at least 20 percent of an employee's time be spent on executive or administrative tasks rather than the current 40 percent standard. These changes directly affect employers and workers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act by redefining eligibility for overtime exemptions and establishing a new mechanism for adjusting salary requirements over time.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill raises overtime exemption thresholds and mandates automatic updates, strengthening worker protections and wages.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · United States · House May 20, 2026

HR 8844: U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act

This bill, known as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Retirement Technical Corrections Act, corrects retirement benefits for specific officers who were offered jobs before July 6, 2008, but started working on or after that date. It ensures these officers are treated as if they were already serving on July 6, 2008, granting them a minimum annuity amount and an exemption from mandatory retirement age. To implement these changes, the Department of Homeland Security must create a list of affected individuals, notify them of their new benefits, and work with the Office of Personnel Management to apply retroactive adjustments. Additionally, the bill requires the Government Accountability Office to review hiring practices related to these benefits and submit a report to Congress within 18 months.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill protects CBP officers' retirement benefits and exempts them from mandatory retirement, strengthening worker security.90% confidence

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in committee · United States · House May 21, 2026

HR 9008: Worker Rights and Support Act

The Worker Rights and Support Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to require employers to provide specific break times for employees, directly affecting workers covered under federal wage and hour laws. Under the new rules, employees must receive at least a 30-minute meal break for every six hours worked, along with a 10-minute break or time to use a restroom for every four hours, and up to 20-minute breaks for medical needs. While meal breaks can be unpaid if the employee is fully relieved of work, any break where the employee remains on duty or cannot leave the site must be paid at a rate of at least one and a half times their regular wage. The bill also allows employees to voluntarily waive meal breaks but prohibits employers from forcing them to do so, and it ensures that existing collective bargaining agreements or state laws offering better protections remain in effect.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates paid or protected break times, directly strengthening worker rights and workplace conditions under federal wage and hour laws.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage Paid Leave

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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

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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

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in committee · United States · House May 14, 2026

HR 8832: Supporting Women COPS Act of 2026

The Supporting Women COPS Act of 2026 creates a 12-member Task Force to study and recommend national hiring standards for law enforcement that do not disadvantage women based on sex. This group will also provide advice on improving retention for female officers and helping them advance to leadership positions. States that adopt these recommendations will receive an additional 5 percent of their federal crime control funding, and the Attorney General will offer technical assistance to help states implement the standards. The Task Force must submit its findings and recommendations to Congress within 18 months of the bill's enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides states with additional federal funding (5% increase) for adopting hiring standards, directly strengthening budget allocations for crime control.75% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates a task force to improve hiring standards and retention for female officers, enhancing law enforcement diversity and leadership, which supports criminal justice reform and accountability.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill aims to improve hiring standards and retention for female law enforcement officers, addressing workplace equity and career advancement.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement

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in committee · United States · House May 19, 2026

HRES 1301: Supporting the designation of May 29, 2026, as "Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day" to raise awareness around mental health in the agricultural industry and workforce and to continue to reduce stigma associated with mental illness.

This resolution designates May 29, 2026, as "Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day" to highlight mental health issues within the farming and agricultural workforce. It aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness by acknowledging the unique stressors faced by producers and workers, such as unpredictable weather, labor shortages, and market fluctuations. The bill also draws attention to available support resources, specifically the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, and encourages the public to observe the day as a way to promote well-being in the industry.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill designates a day to raise mental health awareness in agriculture, aiming to reduce stigma and highlight support resources, which aligns with supporting mental health services.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill raises awareness of mental health in agriculture, addressing worker well-being and reducing stigma, which supports worker welfare.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Tags Agriculture

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in committee · United States · House May 7, 2026

HR 8683: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to codify the Optional Practical Training program.

This bill aims to make permanent the rules for Optional Practical Training, which allows international students to work in the United States after completing their studies. It directly affects F-1 visa holders by codifying their ability to gain up to 24 months of work experience related to their field of study, or up to 48 months if they studied science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. The legislation also directs the Department of Homeland Security to classify nursing as a STEM field, thereby extending the longer work authorization period to nursing graduates. By adding these provisions to federal law, the bill ensures that these work opportunities remain consistent and legally defined for future students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill makes Optional Practical Training permanent, enhancing educational access and career opportunities for international students.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill codifies Optional Practical Training, allowing F-1 visa holders to work legally after graduation, thereby strengthening immigrant integration and access to services.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill codifies Optional Practical Training, expanding legal work opportunities for international graduates and strengthening labor participation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics DACA & Dreamers Work Authorization

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in committee · United States · House Apr 23, 2026

HR 8490: Social Security Caregiver Credit Act of 2026

This bill creates a Social Security credit system for unpaid family caregivers who provide care to chronically dependent relatives, allowing them to earn credits toward future retirement benefits. It defines qualifying months as those where a caregiver spends at least 80 hours providing care to a child under 12 or an adult with significant daily living limitations without receiving monetary compensation. The legislation would credit these caregivers with up to 60 months of deemed wages, calculated as 50% of the national average wage index, starting in 2027, to help increase their future Social Security benefits. Caregivers must submit applications with documentation from physicians for adult dependents and certify their caregiving status annually. The bill requires the Social Security Administration to establish regulations and verification procedures to prevent fraud and abuse within one year of enactment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands Social Security benefits for unpaid family caregivers, protecting worker rights and enhancing retirement security.95% confidence

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in committee · United States · House Mar 24, 2026

HR 8060: Elder Justice Reauthorization and Modernization Act of 2026

The Elder Justice Reauthorization and Modernization Act of 2026 extends federal funding through 2030 to prevent and investigate elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The bill primarily affects states, Indian tribes, and community organizations by providing grants to train nursing home workers and improve retention through wage subsidies, tuition assistance, and childcare support. It also allocates money to expand adult protective services, strengthen long-term care ombudsman programs, and address social isolation among older adults. Additionally, the legislation authorizes medical-legal partnerships to help older adults resolve legal barriers to healthcare and requires regular reporting on program effectiveness.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill extends federal funding to prevent elder abuse and improves nursing home worker retention through wage subsidies and training, directly strengthening healthcare infrastructure.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides wage subsidies, tuition assistance, and childcare support to improve nursing home worker retention and training.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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