Job Protection Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1035
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-05: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-06T06:52:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Job Protection Act (H.R. 1035) aims to broaden access to unpaid family and medical leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA). It seeks to protect more workers by reducing eligibility barriers and extending requirements to smaller employers, allowing employees to take leave for family or medical reasons without job loss.
Key Provisions
- Employee Eligibility Expansion (Section 2):
- Lowers the employment duration requirement for leave eligibility from 12 months (and 1,250 hours of work) to just 90 days.
- Applies this change to private sector employees, federal employees (under Title 5 of the U.S. Code), presidential employees (under Title 3), and congressional employees (under the Congressional Accountability Act).
- Removes certain exclusions from eligibility, such as specific federal officers or employees, while preserving coverage for others under new federal provisions (referenced in Title II, not detailed in the provided text).
- Employer Coverage Expansion (Section 3):
- Extends FMLA requirements to all employers with at least one employee, regardless of size or location.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Eligibility Threshold: The current FMLA requires 12 months of employment and 1,250 hours worked in the prior year for most workers; this bill reduces it to 90 days of employment, making leave accessible much sooner.
- Employer Size Limit: Previously, only employers with 50 or more employees within 75 miles were covered; the bill eliminates this threshold, applying to even the smallest businesses (one or more employees).
- Federal and Government Worker Adjustments: Aligns federal, presidential, and congressional employee rules with the new 90-day standard, streamlining protections across government branches.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens (Workers): Millions more employees, including those in small businesses or with shorter tenures, could qualify for up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for events like childbirth, serious illness, or family care, potentially improving work-life balance and reducing job insecurity.
- On Employers: Small businesses (under 50 employees) face new compliance obligations, such as tracking leave and maintaining benefits, which could increase administrative costs but also help retain talent.
- On Government Agencies: Federal agencies must implement the shorter eligibility period, potentially leading to more leave requests and adjustments in workforce planning; no direct international relations impacts are noted.
- Broader Effects: Could reduce employee turnover and support family stability, but might strain very small employers without additional resources.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Employees and Workers: Primary beneficiaries, especially part-time, new hires, and those in small firms, gaining quicker access to leave.
- Employers: All businesses, with small employers (e.g., startups, family-owned shops) facing the most significant new responsibilities.
- Government Entities: Federal agencies, Congress, and the executive branch, as their employees' leave rules are updated.
- Families and Caregivers: Indirectly supported through easier access to leave for medical or family needs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Expands FMLA without adding paid leave, potentially leading to court challenges from small businesses claiming undue burden under commerce clause interpretations (which allow Congress to regulate interstate economic activity). It maintains the unpaid nature of leave, avoiding wage-related disputes.
- Constitutional: Aligns with equal protection principles by broadening access, but could raise questions about federal overreach into small, local businesses; no direct conflicts with free speech or other rights are evident.
- Political: Introduced by a bipartisan group but primarily Democratic cosponsors, it reflects ongoing debates on worker rights versus business flexibility; passage could signal stronger labor protections, influencing future policies like paid leave expansions. As an introduced bill (not yet law), it requires committee review and votes in the House and Senate.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
Cosponsors (60)
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3], Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5] and 10 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-05: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-05: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-05: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-05: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-05: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Job Protection Act — issued 2025-02-05 — PDF (3 pages)