Worker Rights and Support Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9008
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-03T08:06:07Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to establish federal requirements for employers to provide employees with meal, rest, restroom, and medical breaks. Its goal is to ensure workers receive designated time away from duties during work periods.
Key Provisions
- Meal Breaks: Employers must offer at least 30 minutes of break time for every 6 hours worked. This break is unpaid unless the employee remains on duty or cannot leave the premises, in which case it must be paid at 1.5 times the regular rate. Employees may waive the break by consent, but employers cannot force a waiver.
- Rest and Restroom Breaks: Employers must provide the longer of 10 minutes or a reasonable time to use the nearest accessible restroom for every 4 hours worked. These breaks are paid at the regular rate.
- Medical Breaks: Employers must allow up to 20 minutes per break for needs related to a medical condition, as communicated by a health care provider. These are paid at the regular rate.
- Paid break time counts as hours worked.
- The new rules do not override collective bargaining agreements or replace state laws that offer stronger protections.
- Enforcement adds violations to the list of prohibited acts under the Act, with remedies including legal or equitable relief, and updates the statute of limitations for related claims. Section 10 of the existing Act is repealed.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill introduces the first broad federal mandate for meal, rest, restroom, and medical breaks under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Prior law focused mainly on wages, overtime, and child labor, leaving most break rules to states or specific exceptions (such as nursing mothers). The changes expand employer obligations and align enforcement tools with existing wage and hour provisions.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Labor would handle additional enforcement, investigations, and potential litigation, increasing administrative workload.
- Citizens: Employees gain guaranteed paid and unpaid breaks, potentially improving health, safety, and work-life balance, especially for those in long-shift industries.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Employees across covered industries.
- Employers subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act.
- Labor unions through collective bargaining agreements.
- State governments with existing break laws.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill strengthens federal worker protections without preempting stricter state standards, which may lead to varied compliance across jurisdictions. It expands the Fair Labor Standards Act's scope into areas traditionally regulated at the state level, potentially raising questions about federal authority over workplace conditions, though no direct constitutional conflicts are evident in the text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
Cosponsors (9)
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Worker Rights and Support Act — issued 2026-05-21 — PDF (6 pages)