CHILD Labor Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9347
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-18: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on 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
- 2026-07-07T06:58:45Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation aims to strengthen protections against child labor violations by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), imposing child labor requirements on certain federal contractors and recipients of federal financial assistance, and requiring reports on work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
Key Provisions
- Title I (FLSA Amendments):
- Redefines "oppressive child labor" to explicitly prohibit employment of individuals under 18 in manufacturing, mining, trenching/excavation, meat processing, demolition, and explosives, and grants the Secretary of Labor authority to identify additional hazardous occupations or places of work.
- Extends liability to supply chains, including prime contractors and subcontractors, with a good-faith defense if written assurances and affirmative steps are taken.
- Authorizes "Unlawfully Manufactured; Child Labor" tags on goods, stop-work orders (with compensation requirements for affected workers), and joint-and-several liability for successors in interest.
- Increases civil penalties (up to $728,760 per violation causing death or serious injury, with doubling for repeated/willful violations or those involving many children), adds compensatory and punitive damages (minimum $75,000 or $750,000 depending on severity), and extends the statute of limitations to 10 years.
- Introduces criminal penalties (fines up to $750,000 and up to 1 year imprisonment) and requires training programs for recognition and prevention of violations.
- Title II (Federal Contractors and Assistance):
- Amends the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act to prohibit employment of individuals under 16 and oppressive child labor by contractors, subcontractors, or suppliers.
- Applies similar requirements to contracts under the Davis-Bacon Act (and related acts) and the Service Contract Act, including training, labor-management committees, and liquidated damages ($20 per day per affected individual).
- Imposes a 3-year prohibition on new federal contracts or assistance for violators and provides for contract cancellation and recovery of costs.
- Title III (Miscellaneous): Requires the Secretary of Labor to collect, analyze, and report annually to Congress on trends in work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the FLSA definition of oppressive child labor beyond prior age-based restrictions and Secretary findings.
- Introduces supply-chain and successor liability, stop-work orders, and product tagging not present in current FLSA provisions.
- Raises maximum penalties and adds private damages remedies (including punitive damages) with an extended 10-year statute of limitations.
- Creates new mandatory child-labor stipulations for federal contracts and assistance previously governed only by general labor standards.
- Mandates ongoing regulatory updates every 5 years and annual congressional reporting on injury trends.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Increases enforcement responsibilities and authority for the Department of Labor, including investigations across supply chains and issuance of stop-work orders; requires new reporting and consultation with HHS.
- Citizens: Provides stronger safeguards for minors in the workforce, including higher compensation for violations causing harm.
- Businesses: Imposes compliance costs for supply-chain monitoring, training, and committees; exposes contractors to liquidated damages, contract debarment, and expanded liability.
- No provisions address international relations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Minors under 18 years of age (particularly in specified industries).
- Employers, prime contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers at any tier.
- Federal agencies awarding contracts or financial assistance.
- The Department of Labor and Secretary of Health and Human Services.
- Congress (as recipient of annual reports).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Establishes joint-and-several liability and successor-in-interest rules that broaden responsibility beyond direct employers.
- Creates new private rights of action for compensatory and punitive damages alongside existing FLSA remedies.
- Authorizes regulatory expansion of prohibited occupations without new legislation.
- The bill does not alter constitutional allocations of authority between federal and state governments or address preemption beyond noting that state laws providing greater remedies are not preempted.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
Cosponsors (17)
Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-18: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
- 2026-06-18: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
- 2026-06-18: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Children Harmed In Life-threatening or Dangerous Labor Act — issued 2026-06-18 — PDF (33 pages)