Companies that violate worker and child labor laws would face much higher penalties.
This bill would significantly increase the fines companies pay for breaking laws related to child labor, worker safety, fair wages, and family leave. It would also create new penalties for unfair labor practices and ensure health plans provide equal mental health benefits. These changes aim to better protect workers and children by making violations more costly for employers.
Today, penalties for many labor, safety, and health plan violations are often lower. Some violations, like certain Family and Medical Leave Act issues or unfair labor practices, do not carry civil penalties. It can also be challenging to collect unpaid mine safety fines. After this bill, companies would face much higher fines for child labor, wage, safety, and farmworker violations. New civil penalties would apply for FMLA interference (up to $25,000), FMLA notice and recordkeeping (up to $2,500 each), and FLSA recordkeeping (up to $2,500). New penalties would also apply for unfair labor practices, potentially holding company leaders personally responsible. Mine operators would face doubled penalties for repeat violations, new penalties for retaliation, and could have their mines shut down for unpaid fines. Fines for Black Lung Benefits violations would also increase, while health plans would face stronger penalties for not providing equal mental health benefits.
HR 6597 · 119th Congress · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 10/10
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9 filings mentioned this bill
Amounts reflect total quarterly lobbying spend reported to the Senate, not bill-specific spending. Source: Senate LDA filings.