Labor & Employment (Minimum Wage) in United States

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 4, 2026

S 3780: Give America a Raise Act

S 3780, the "Give America a Raise Act," would gradually raise the federal minimum wage from $10.00 to $20.00 per hour over four years, then tie future increases to inflation or GDP growth (whichever is higher). It would also phase out the separate lower minimum wage for tipped workers, requiring their base pay to match the standard minimum wage by 2027, while ending the separate $4.25 hourly rate for workers under 20. The bill includes provisions to transition individuals with disabilities out of special wage certificates by 2027 and requires employers to inform workers about retaining all tips. These changes would directly affect millions of low-wage workers across the U.S. in covered industries.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · United States · House Jan 13, 2026

HR 7032: Pay Paraprofessionals and Support Staff Act

This bill establishes minimum salary and wage standards for paraprofessionals and education support staff in public schools. It requires states to set a minimum annual salary of $45,000 for full-time staff (increasing with inflation after 2030) and a minimum hourly wage of $30 for part-time staff (also inflation-adjusted). The federal government will provide $25 billion in FY2026, with annual funding increases, to help states implement these standards through grants. States must ensure all local schools meet these minimums within 4 years of receiving funds, with 98% of grant money allocated directly to schools for salary increases or professional development.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Teachers Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · United States · House Jul 15, 2025

HR 4418: Child Care for Working Families Act

The Child Care for Working Families Act creates a federal program to provide affordable, high-quality child care for working families with children under age 6. It would provide direct child care assistance through certificates or grants to parents, with no copayment required for families at or below 85% of state median income. The program requires states to implement quality standards for child care providers, including a tiered quality system and minimum wage requirements for staff (at least a living wage equivalent to elementary educators). The bill appropriates $20 billion for the program over five years, with additional funding for quality improvement initiatives and universal preschool services.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Minimum Wage Paid Leave

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 28, 2025

S 2481: Pay Teachers Act

The Pay Teachers Act requires states to ensure public school teachers earn a minimum starting salary of $60,000 that increases with experience, and paraprofessionals and education support staff earn at least $45,000 annually or $30 per hour. The bill provides mandatory federal funding to support these salary increases and requires states to develop implementation plans within 4 years (with possible extensions for states facing financial challenges). It also establishes career ladder programs that allow teachers to earn additional compensation for taking on leadership roles and responsibilities. This legislation directly affects all public school teachers, paraprofessionals, and education support staff nationwide, as well as state and local education agencies responsible for implementing the changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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 & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · United States · House Apr 9, 2025

HR 2764: Tax Cut for Workers Act of 2025

This bill expands the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for low-income workers by lowering the minimum age to claim the credit from 25 to 19 (with exceptions for students, former foster youth, and homeless youth), removing the maximum age limit of 65, and doubling the credit percentage from 7.65% to 15.3%. It also increases the income thresholds for eligibility, raising the phaseout starting point from $4,220 to $9,820 for single filers and $5,280 to $11,610 for joint returns. The credit amounts and income limits will now adjust annually for inflation using specific Consumer Price Index (CPI) benchmarks. Additionally, taxpayers can elect to use their prior year’s earned income to calculate the credit if it was higher than the current year’s, effective for 2026 tax returns.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Child Labor Minimum Wage

in committee · United States · House Feb 18, 2025

HR 1434: Strengthening Communities through Summer Employment Act

HR 1434 authorizes $200 million to $240 million annually (2026-2030) to fund summer youth employment programs for participants under 25, primarily targeting high-unemployment and high-crime communities. It provides competitive grants to states, local governments, or nonprofits to create or expand programs that include subsidized jobs (minimum wage, 4+ weeks), mentoring, career counseling, and post-program support - aimed at improving high school graduation, college enrollment, employment, and reducing crime rates. The bill prioritizes programs serving underserved youth (including rural/suburban areas) and requires grantees to implement specific elements like job training, digital literacy, and employer matching. An Advisory Board oversees grant reviews, evaluates program impact, and maintains a database of outcomes to ensure evidence-based improvements.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Child Labor Minimum Wage Workforce Development

in committee · United States · House Apr 8, 2025

HR 2743: Raise the Wage Act of 2025

The Raise the Wage Act of 2025 gradually increases the federal minimum wage from $9.50 to $17.00 per hour over six years, with annual adjustments based on median wage growth. It raises the base wage for tipped workers from $6.00 to $17.00 per hour, phasing out their separate minimum wage structure by 2029. The bill also eliminates special minimum wage certificates for disabled workers after 2029, requiring employers to pay the standard minimum wage. These changes apply to most covered workers, including tipped employees and those under 20, with specific transition timelines for each group.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · United States · House Feb 13, 2025

HR 1314: TIPS Act

This bill (HR 1314, TIPS Act) requires employers to pay tipped workers the standard federal minimum wage instead of the current lower rate (currently $2.13/hour), directly affecting workers in hospitality, food service, and similar roles. It also creates a new tax deduction for cash tips received in qualifying jobs (e.g., restaurants, hotels), allowing workers to deduct these tips from taxable income up to $112,500 in adjusted gross income. The deduction applies only to tips from unrelated customers without business ownership stakes, excluding credit card tips. The tax provisions take effect for 2026 tax years.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Minimum Wage

in committee · United States · House May 29, 2025

HR 3662: Labor Income Fairness and Transparency Act

The Labor Income Fairness and Transparency Act (HR 3662) increases the federal minimum wage to $10.25 per hour after one year, $13.75 after two years, and $17.00 after three years, with future increases tied to median wage growth. It eliminates subminimum wage rates for youth workers (previously allowed for first 90 days), student-learners, and special certificate programs, requiring all workers to receive the standard minimum wage. The bill also increases minimum wage rates for tipped employees and raises civil penalties for wage law violations from $1,100 to $2,200. It establishes a National Advisory Committee on the Hospitality Industry to advise on worker issues in that sector and makes temporary Earned Income Tax Credit improvements permanent. This legislation directly affects all covered workers and employers across the United States who must comply with federal wage laws.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards Minimum Wage

All labor & employment bills