BillCam

Labor Standards

Number	Legislature	Summary	Subjects
SR-553	Federal	A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Government of the People's Republic of China made multiple serious mistakes in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak that heightened the severity and spread of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the intentional spread of misinformation to downplay the risks of COVID-19, a refusal to cooperate with international health authorities, internal censorship of doctors and journalists, and a malicious disregard for the health of ethnic minorities. This resolution condemns the Chinese government's response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak, including China's censorship of doctors and journalists during the early days of the outbreak and its refusal to accept assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The resolution also calls for (1) China to publicly state that there is no evidence that COVID-19 originated from outside China, and (2) the World Health Organization to retract misleading statements of support for China's response to COVID-19. Republican: 100% (2) 100% Republican support	International Affairs Asia Cardiovascular And Respiratory Health Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (cdc) China Department Of Health And Human Services Detention Of Persons Diplomacy, Foreign Officials, Americans Abroad Emergency Medical Services And Trauma Care Health Personnel
HR-907	Federal	Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of the People's Republic of China made multiple, serious mistakes in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak that heightened the severity and spread of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which include the Chinese Government's intentional spread of misinformation to downplay the risks of the virus, a refusal to cooperate with international health authorities, internal censorship of doctors and journalists, and malicious disregard for the health of ethnic minorities. This resolution condemns the Chinese government's response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak, including China's censorship of doctors and journalists during the early days of the outbreak and its refusal to accept assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The resolution also calls for (1) China to publicly state that there is no evidence that COVID-19 originated from outside China, and (2) the World Health Organization to retract misleading statements of support for China's response to COVID-19. Republican: 98% (49) Democrat: 2% (1) 98% Republican support 2% Democrat support	International Affairs Asia Cardiovascular And Respiratory Health Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (cdc) China Department Of Health And Human Services Detention Of Persons Diplomacy, Foreign Officials, Americans Abroad Emergency Medical Services And Trauma Care Health Personnel
HB-6279	Federal	Business Supply Chain Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Act of 2020 This bill requires certain issuers of securities to disclose their efforts to prevent the use of forced labor, slavery, trafficked persons, and child labor in their supply chains. Democrat: 50% (1) Republican: 50% (1) 50% Democrat support 50% Republican support	Finance And Financial Sector Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Business Ethics Business Records Corporate Finance And Management Crimes Against Children Foreign And International Corporations Government Information And Archives Human Rights Human Trafficking
HB-5221	Federal	100% Clean Economy Act of 2019 This bill establishes requirements to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. Specifically, the bill sets a national goal of achieving a 100% clean economy (i.e., economy-wide, net-zero greenhouse gas emissions) by no later than 2050. Each federal agency must develop and implement a plan to rapidly achieve the national goal. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must monitor, evaluate, and report on the progress of the United States in achieving the national goal. In addition, the EPA must establish the Clean Economy Federal Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the EPA on one or more interim greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals for the United States to achieve before achieving the national goal. After obtaining the committee's recommendations, the EPA must recommend to Congress one or more interim goals. Democrat: 99% (168) Independent: 0% (1) 99% Democrat support 0% Independent support	Environmental Protection Advisory Bodies Air Quality Climate Change And Greenhouse Gases Congressional Oversight Consumer Affairs Employee Hiring Employment Discrimination And Employee Rights Environmental Assessment, Monitoring, Research Environmental Health
HB-5170	Federal	Safe Skies Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to modify a specified DOT final rule relating to flight crew member duty and rest requirements so that the requirements under that rule apply to all-cargo flight crew members to the same extent they apply to air passenger flight crew members. Democrat: 82% (33) Republican: 17% (7) 82% Democrat support 17% Republican support	Transportation And Public Works Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Aviation And Airports Department Of Transportation Labor Standards Transportation Employees Transportation Safety And Security Worker Safety And Health
HB-5038	Federal	Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 This bill contains provisions related to alien farmworkers, including provisions establishing a certified agricultural worker (CAW) status and changing the H-2A temporary worker program. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may grant CAW status to an applying alien who (1) performed at least 1,035 hours of agricultural labor during the two-year period prior to November 12, 2019, (2) on that date was inadmissible, deportable, or under a grant of deferred enforced departure or temporary protected status, and (3) has been continuously present in the United States from that date until receiving CAW status. The bill imposes additional crime-related inadmissibility grounds on CAW applicants and makes some other grounds inapplicable. CAW status shall be valid for 5.5 years and may be extended. DHS may grant dependent status to the spouse or children of a principal alien. An alien with a pending application may not be detained or removed by DHS and shall be authorized for employment until DHS makes a final decision on the application. A CAW alien (and dependents) may apply for lawful permanent resident status after meeting various requirements, including performing a certain amount of agricultural labor for a number of years. DHS shall create an electronic platform for (1) filing H-2A petitions, (2) facilitating the processing of H-2A cases, and (3) providing agencies a single tool for obtaining H-2A-related case information. The bill makes various changes to the H-2A program, such as (1) modifying the method for calculating and making adjustments to the H-2A worker minimum wage, (2) specifying how an employer may satisfy requirements that it attempted to recruit U.S. workers, (3) requiring H-2A employers to guarantee certain minimum work hours, and (4) making the program available for year-round agricultural work and reserving a visa allocation for the dairy industry. DHS shall establish a pilot program allowing certain H-2A workers to apply for portable status, which gives the worker 60 days after leaving a position to secure new employment with a registered H-2A employer. DHS shall establish an electronic system patterned on the E-Verify Program for employers to verify an individual's identity and employment authorization. Employers hiring individuals for agricultural employment must use the system. This bill permanently establishes the Housing Preservation and Revitalization Program, which provides financing assistance for rural rental housing and off-farm labor housing and rental assistance for qualified tenants of such housing. It also authorizes the Department of Agriculture to provide various assistance, including funding for insuring loans and grants for new farmworker housing. Democrat: 60% (38) Republican: 39% (25) 60% Democrat support 39% Republican support	Immigration Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Administrative Remedies Advisory Bodies Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation, Arbitration Border Security And Unlawful Immigration Civil Actions And Liability Commuting Congressional Oversight Contracts And Agency
HB-5052	Federal	WAVES Act Wage Adjustment for Veterans Enrolled in School Act Democrat: 96% (28) Republican: 3% (1) 96% Democrat support 3% Republican support	Armed Forces And National Security Labor Standards Student Aid And College Costs Temporary And Part-time Employment Veterans' Education, Employment, Rehabilitation Wages And Earnings
HB-3715	Federal	Protecting Employees Tips Act This bill prohibits an employer from keeping any portion of the tips paid to its employees to cover credit or debit card transaction fees charged by a card issuer. Democrat: 100% (1) 100% Democrat support	Labor And Employment Labor Standards Wages And Earnings
HB-4916	Federal	Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 This bill contains provisions related to alien farmworkers, including provisions establishing a certified agricultural worker (CAW) status and changing the H-2A temporary worker program. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may grant CAW status to an applying alien who (1) performed at least 1,035 hours of agricultural labor during the two-year period prior to October 30, 2019, (2) was inadmissible or deportable on that date, and (3) has been continuously present in the United States from that date until receiving CAW status. The bill imposes additional crime-related inadmissibility grounds on CAW applicants and makes some other grounds inapplicable. CAW status shall be valid for 5.5 years and may be extended. DHS may grant dependent status to the spouse or children of a principal alien. An alien with a pending application may not be detained or removed by DHS and shall be authorized for employment until DHS makes a final decision on the application. A CAW alien (and dependents) may apply for lawful permanent resident status after meeting various requirements, including performing a certain amount of agricultural labor for a number of years. DHS shall create an electronic platform for (1) filing H-2A petitions, (2) facilitating the processing of H-2A cases, and (3) providing agencies a single tool for obtaining H-2A-related case information. The bill makes various changes to the H-2A program, such as (1) modifying the method for calculating and making adjustments to the H-2A worker minimum wage, (2) specifying how an employer may satisfy requirements that it attempted to recruit U.S. workers, (3) requiring H-2A employers to guarantee certain minimum work hours, and (4) making the program available for year-round agricultural work and reserving a visa allocation for the dairy industry. DHS shall establish a pilot program allowing certain H-2A workers to apply for portable status, which gives the worker 60 days after leaving a position to secure new employment with a registered H-2A employer. DHS shall establish an electronic system patterned on the E-Verify Program for employers to verify an individual's identity and employment authorization. Employers hiring individuals for agricultural employment must use the system. This bill permanently establishes the Housing Preservation and Revitalization Program, which provides financing assistance for rural rental housing and off-farm labor housing and rental assistance for qualified tenants of such housing. It also authorizes the Department of Agriculture to provide various assistance, including funding for insuring loans and grants for new farmworker housing. Democrat: 53% (25) Republican: 46% (22) 53% Democrat support 46% Republican support	Immigration Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Administrative Remedies Advisory Bodies Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation, Arbitration Border Security And Unlawful Immigration Civil Actions And Liability Commuting Congressional Oversight Contracts And Agency
HR-531	Federal	Expressing concern over the prevalence of hazardous working conditions for children, especially the worst forms of child labor in the mining of cobalt and other minerals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Democrat: 88% (8) Republican: 11% (1) 88% Democrat support 11% Republican support	International Affairs Africa Business Ethics Child Safety And Welfare Democratic Republic Of The Congo Foreign Aid And International Relief Government Information And Archives International Organizations And Cooperation Labor Standards Metals
S.2630	Federal	Davis-Bacon Repeal Act This bill repeals the Davis-Bacon Act (which requires that the locally prevailing wage rate be paid to various classes of laborers and mechanics working under federally-financed or federally-assisted contracts for construction, alteration, and repair of public buildings or public works). References in any law to a requirement under the Davis-Bacon Act shall be null and void. Republican: 100% (9) 100% Republican support	Labor And Employment Building Construction Government Buildings, Facilities, And Property Labor Standards Public Contracts And Procurement Wages And Earnings
S.2217	Federal	Driver Fatigue Prevention Act This bill makes over-the-road bus drivers subject to limitations on the maximum number of hours that an employee may work under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Democrat: 100% (1) 100% Democrat support	Labor And Employment Labor Standards Motor Carriers Transportation Employees Transportation Safety And Security Worker Safety And Health
HR-594	Federal	Expressing profound concern about threats to human rights, the rule of law, democracy, and the environment in Brazil. This resolution urges Brazil and the United States to investigate human rights abuses in Brazil and reduce deforestation of the Amazon. The resolution also calls on the United States to suspend military assistance to Brazil unless the Department of State determines that measures are being taken to ensure human rights. Democrat: 100% (16) 100% Democrat support	International Affairs Agricultural Conservation And Pollution Air Quality Alliances Brazil Climate Change And Greenhouse Gases Crime Victims Crimes Against Animals And Natural Resources Criminal Investigation, Prosecution, Interrogation Detention Of Persons
SR-303	Federal	A resolution calling upon the leadership of the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to dismantle its kwan-li-so political prison labor camp system, and for other purposes. This resolution calls for the international community to demand that North Korea dismantle its labor camp system and for North Korea to cease human rights abuses and release political prisoners. Republican: 68% (13) Democrat: 31% (6) 68% Republican support 31% Democrat support	International Affairs Asia Criminal Investigation, Prosecution, Interrogation Detention Of Persons Foreign Aid And International Relief Human Rights International Organizations And Cooperation Labor Standards North Korea Protest And Dissent
HB-3896	Federal	Protection of American Jobs in Cross-Border Rail Operations With Mexico Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation to issue regulations that restrict the operation of trains originating in Mexico within the United States to crews comprised entirely of U.S. citizens and nationals. Democrat: 90% (36) Republican: 10% (4) 90% Democrat support 10% Republican support	Transportation And Public Works Administrative Law And Regulatory Procedures Department Of Transportation Foreign Labor Labor Standards Latin America Mexico Railroads Transportation Employees
HB-3712	Federal	Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act This bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) to require employers to make initial and modified disclosures to employees of the terms of their employment, provide such employees with regular paystubs, and make a final payment to an employee for uncompensated work hours within 14 days of the employee's termination. Employers must also allow employees access to wage records. An employer must compensate an employee at the rate specified in an employment contract, including a collective bargaining agreement, that specifies a rate of pay higher than the minimum wage rate. The bill establishes new and increased civil and criminal penalties for FLSA overtime or minimum wage violations, including referral to the Department of Justice for criminal prosecution of employers who engage in wage theft, falsification of wage records, or retaliation against employees. The Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor must provide grants to specified organizations, including nonprofits and educational institutions, to enhance the enforcement of wage and hour laws. The Government Accountability Office must study and report on successful grant programs. Democrat: 100% (28) 100% Democrat support	Labor And Employment Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation, Arbitration Civil Actions And Liability Community Life And Organization Congressional Oversight Criminal Investigation, Prosecution, Interrogation Employment Discrimination And Employee Rights Government Studies And Investigations Labor Standards Personnel Records
HB-3838	Federal	Honoring Family-Friendly Workplaces Act This bill directs the Department of Labor to establish a national certification program to award certifications to recognize employers that have a commitment to helping employees balance employment responsibilities and family obligations. Democrat: 100% (18) 100% Democrat support	Labor And Employment Adoption And Foster Care Child Care And Development Child Health Employee Benefits And Pensions Employee Leave Family Relationships Labor Standards
S.2197	Federal	Protecting Rights Of Those Exploited by Coercive Trafficking Act of 2019 Democrat: 57% (4) Republican: 42% (3) 57% Democrat support 42% Republican support	Crime And Law Enforcement Crimes Against Children Drug, Alcohol, Tobacco Use Human Trafficking Labor Standards Sex Offenses
HB-3760	Federal	Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act Democrat: 100% (91) 100% Democrat support	Labor And Employment Advisory Bodies Assault And Harassment Offenses Child Care And Development Child Health Civil Actions And Liability Congressional Oversight Criminal Justice Information And Records Disability And Paralysis Disability Assistance
HB-4069	Federal	Modern Worker Empowerment Act This bill requires the use of common law rules in defining "employee" under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Republican: 95% (21) Democrat: 4% (1) 95% Republican support 4% Democrat support	Labor And Employment Labor Standards

Title: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Government of the People's Republic of China made multiple serious mistakes in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak that heightened the severity and spread of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including the intentional spread of misinformation to downplay the risks of COVID-19, a refusal to cooperate with international health authorities, internal censorship of doctors and journalists, and a malicious disregard for the health of ethnic minorities.