Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/hr/1723
Last Updated: June 10, 2026

Sponsored by

Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]

ID: M001194

Follow the money

The bill

Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2025

HR. 1723, 119th Congress — read as touching Labor Unions.

The sponsor

Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The money

$131,950 raised

30 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.

The alignment

70% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "Department of Justice" section, p. 611-614 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 393.

January 15, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

✅

Passed House

🏛️

Senate Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. Let's dissect this farce and expose the underlying disease.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2025 is a cleverly crafted bill that claims to "clarify" the rights of Indians and Indian Tribes on Indian lands under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). But don't be fooled – this bill has nothing to do with tribal sovereignty or labor rights. Its true purpose is to carve out exemptions for tribal-owned businesses, allowing them to operate outside the NLRA's protections for workers.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends the NLRA by inserting new definitions for "Indian tribe," "Indian," and "Indian lands." These changes are designed to create a loophole that would exclude tribal-owned enterprises from federal labor laws, effectively allowing them to exploit their employees without fear of reprisal. The bill's sponsors claim this will promote economic development on reservations, but we all know the real motivation: to line the pockets of tribal leaders and their corporate cronies.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The main beneficiaries of this bill are tribal-owned businesses, which would gain a competitive advantage by being exempt from federal labor laws. The losers? Workers on Indian lands, who would be stripped of their NLRA protections and left vulnerable to exploitation. Oh, and let's not forget the politicians who will reap campaign contributions and other benefits from their tribal friends.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of " regulatory capture," where special interests hijack the legislative process to serve their own agendas. By creating exemptions for tribal-owned businesses, Congress would be undermining the NLRA's core purpose: protecting workers' rights. The consequences? Widespread exploitation of Native American workers, erosion of labor standards, and further entrenchment of corruption on reservations.

In conclusion, HR 1723 is a cynical attempt to disguise corporate welfare as "tribal sovereignty." It's a legislative disease that requires a strong dose of skepticism and scrutiny. I'll give it a diagnosis: "Acute Cronyism Syndrome," with symptoms including regulatory capture, exploitation of workers, and a healthy dose of hypocrisy. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than watch politicians pretend to care about Native American rights while they line their own pockets.

Related Topics

State & Local Government AffairsPublic Lands & Natural ResourcesLabor & Employment Policy
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$131,950
26 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$39,550
Committees
$0
Individuals
$92,400

No PAC contributions found

1
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
3 transactions
$6,600
2
SHINGLE SPRINGS BAND OF MIWOK INDIANS
2 transactions
$5,800
3
MATCH-E-BE-NASH-SHE-WISH BAND POTTAWATOMI INDIANS
1 transaction
$3,300
4
PECHANGA BAND OF INDIANS
1 transaction
$3,300
5
POKAGON BAND OF POTAWATOMI INDIANS
1 transaction
$3,300
6
SAGINAW CHIPPEWA INDIAN TRIBE TRIBAL OPERATIONS
1 transaction
$3,300
7
NOTTAWASEPPI HURON BAND OF THE POTAWATOMI
1 transaction
$3,300
8
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
2 transactions
$3,000
9
SAULT STE. MARIE TRIBE CHIPPEWA INDIANS
1 transaction
$2,900
10
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
1 transaction
$2,500
11
THE CHICKASAW NATION
1 transaction
$2,000
12
GRANT CONSULTING GROUP LLC
1 transaction
$250

No committee contributions found

1
HIBMA, DANIEL T.
1 transaction
$6,600
2
CAMERON, RONALD M.
1 transaction
$6,600
3
KENNEDY III, JOHN C.
1 transaction
$6,600
4
LYNCH, JON J.
1 transaction
$6,600
5
DEVOS, DANIEL G.
1 transaction
$6,600
6
DEVOS, DOUGLAS L.
1 transaction
$6,600
7
DEVOS, ELISABETH
1 transaction
$6,600
8
DEVOS, MARIA P.
1 transaction
$6,600
9
DEVOS, PAMELLA G.
1 transaction
$6,600
10
DEVOS, RICHARD M. JR.
1 transaction
$6,600
11
DEVOS, SUZANNE C.
1 transaction
$6,600
12
EHMANN, STEPHEN L.
1 transaction
$6,600
13
MYLER, PAMELA H.
1 transaction
$6,600
14
KEPLER, DAVID E. II
1 transaction
$6,600

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 7 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4]

ID: C001053

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$52,900
Dec 8, 2023
2
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$46,300
Oct 21, 2024
3
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$25,000
Oct 21, 2024
4
SAGINAW CHIPPEWA INDIAN TRIBE
OrganizationMT PLEASANT, MI
$5,000
Dec 26, 2024
5
PECHANGA BAND OF INDIANS
OrganizationTEMECULA, CA
$5,000
May 13, 2024
6
PECHANGA BAND OF INDIANS
OrganizationTEMECULA, CA
$3,300
May 13, 2024
7
ISBELL FARMS
OrganizationMUSCLE SHOALS, AL
$1,500
Sep 30, 2024
8
KANADY, MICHAEL C
ECHO • FOUNDER
IndividualNICHOLS HILLS, OK
$100,000
May 6, 2024
9
SPITZER, TERRY
GLOBAL TECHNICAL SYSTEMS • CEO
IndividualVIRGINIA BEACH, VA
$30,000
Jun 6, 2024
10
PEROT, ROSS MR. JR
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$13,200
Jun 3, 2024

Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1]

ID: F000469

Top Contributors

10

1
ROBU, ELI
AJ GENERAL CONTRACTORS • CONSTRUCTION
IndividualWORLEY, ID
$3,300
Aug 4, 2024
2
SCOTT, JB
SELF EMPLOYED • REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER
IndividualBOISE, ID
$3,300
Apr 16, 2024
3
VANDERSLOOT, FRANK
MELALEUCA • CEO
IndividualIDAHO FALLS, ID
$3,300
May 1, 2024
4
TURLINGTON, SCOTT
TAMARACK RESORT • HOSPITALITY
IndividualTAMARACK, ID
$3,300
Apr 20, 2024
5
VANDERSLOOT, BELINDA
HOMEMAKER • HOMEMAKER
IndividualIDAHO FALLS, ID
$3,300
May 1, 2024
6
BENNETT, BRETT
BENNETT LUMBER • PRESIDENT
IndividualMOSCOW, ID
$3,300
Oct 28, 2023
7
WILLIAMS, LARRY
TREE TOP RANCHES • OWNER
IndividualBOISE, ID
$3,300
Feb 13, 2024
8
CENTERS, JAKE
RETIRED • RETIRED
IndividualMERIDIAN, ID
$3,300
Feb 15, 2024
9
ROOPE, CALEB
THE PACIFIC COMPANIES • CEO
IndividualEAGLE, ID
$3,300
Mar 4, 2024
10
ROOPE, CALEB
THE PACIFIC COMPANIES • CEO
IndividualEAGLE, ID
$3,300
Mar 4, 2024

Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1]

ID: L000578

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Oct 31, 2024
2
AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS
OrganizationPALM SPRINGS, CA
$3,300
Sep 29, 2023
3
LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE
OrganizationCASS LAKE, MN
$2,000
Nov 4, 2024
4
VANN BROTHERS
UNINCORPORATED • PARTNERSHIP
OrganizationWILLIAMS, CA
$1,500
Jun 27, 2023
5
ONEIDA NATION
OrganizationONEIDA, WI
$1,000
Oct 31, 2024
6
SANTA ROSA RANCHERIA, .
SOVEREIGN NATION • INDIAN TRIBE
IndividualLEMORE, CA
$6,600
May 6, 2024
7
NECHAY, JULIA
N/A • NOT EMPLOYED
IndividualROSEVILLE, CA
$5,000
Oct 26, 2024
8
OSAGE NATION, .
SOVEREIGN NATION • INDIAN TRIBE
IndividualPAWHUSKA, OK
$3,300
Oct 8, 2024
9
MCLAUGHLIN, RANDY
OLD DURHAM WOOD • ORCHARD TEMOVAL
IndividualDURHAM, CA
$3,300
Oct 13, 2024
10
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA, .
SOVEREIGN NATION • INDIAN TRIBE
IndividualDURANT, OK
$3,300
Oct 16, 2024

Rep. Yakym, Rudy [R-IN-2]

ID: Y000067

Top Contributors

10

1
POKAGON BAND OF POTAWATOMI INDIANS
OrganizationDOWAGIAC, MI
$8,300
Apr 25, 2023
2
MATCH-E-BE-NASH-SHE-WISH BAND OF POTTAWATOMI INDIANS
OrganizationSHELBYVILLE, MI
$3,300
Oct 22, 2024
3
MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT TRIBAL NATION
OrganizationMASHANTUCKET, CT
$3,300
Oct 27, 2023
4
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Mar 16, 2024
5
POKAGON BAND OF POTAWATOMI INDIANS
OrganizationDOWAGIAC, MI
$3,300
Apr 25, 2023
6
MATCH-E-BE-NASH-SHE-WISH BAND OF POTTAWATOMI INDIANS
OrganizationSHELBYVILLE, MI
$3,300
Sep 29, 2023
7
PECHANGA BAND OF INDIANS
OrganizationTEMECULA, CA
$3,300
Sep 29, 2023
8
SAGINAW CHIPPEWA TRIBE OF MICHIGAN
OrganizationMT. PLEASANT, MI
$2,000
Oct 27, 2023
9
POKAGON BAND OF POTAWATOMI INDIANS
OrganizationDOWAGIAC, MI
$1,700
Apr 27, 2023
10
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationDURANT, OK
$1,650
Dec 31, 2023

Rep. Messmer, Mark B. [R-IN-8]

ID: M001233

Top Contributors

10

1
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
2
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
3
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
4
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
5
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
6
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
7
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
8
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
9
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,300
Apr 11, 2024
10
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE PAC
PACWASHINGTON, DC
$3,000
Apr 11, 2024

Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]

ID: C000059

Top Contributors

10

1
WINRED
COMARLINGTON, VA
$2,000
Nov 4, 2024
2
WINRED
COMARLINGTON, VA
$500
Oct 21, 2024
3
WINRED
COMARLINGTON, VA
$500
Nov 4, 2024
4
WINRED
COMARLINGTON, VA
$30
Nov 5, 2024
5
WINRED
COMARLINGTON, VA
$10
Oct 28, 2024
6
CHEROKEE NATION
OrganizationTAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Oct 17, 2024
7
TWENTY-NINE PALMS BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationCOACHELLA, CA
$3,300
Nov 14, 2024
8
TWENTY-NINE PALMS BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationCOACHELLA, CA
$3,300
Nov 14, 2024
9
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLAKESIDE, CA
$3,300
Dec 28, 2024
10
SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationHIGHLAND, CA
$3,300
Dec 22, 2023

Rep. Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL-26]

ID: D000600

Top Contributors

10

1
THE CHICKASAW NATION
PACADA, OK
$1,000
Jun 12, 2023
2
MOORE, WILLIAM H
ELEANOR CROOK FOUNDATION • PRESIDENT
IndividualRALEIGH, NC
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
3
ROCKEFELLER, LISENNE
WINROCK INTERNATIONAL • PRESIDENT AND CHAIR
IndividualLITTLE ROCK, AR
$3,300
Oct 23, 2024
4
FAISON, JAY W
CLEARPATH • FOUNDER
IndividualCHARLOTTE, NC
$3,300
Dec 31, 2023
5
GEZARI, WALTER
STIDD SYSTEMS, INC • CEO
IndividualCALVERTON, NY
$3,300
Nov 9, 2023
6
BRODIE, HOWARD
BRODIE GENERAL CAPITAL PARTNERS • ATTORNEY
IndividualHAVERFORD, PA
$3,300
Nov 16, 2023
7
FAISON, JAY W
CLEARPATH • FOUNDER
IndividualCHARLOTTE, NC
$3,300
Dec 31, 2023
8
GLENN, HARRY
VAN SCOYOC ASSOCIATES • VICE PRESIDENT
IndividualCLEARWATER, FL
$3,300
Dec 11, 2023
9
PEISACH, JAIME
PASSION GROWERS LLC • MANAGER
IndividualMIAMI, FL
$3,300
Nov 8, 2023
10
STERLING, MONA
GOLDEN LIONESS • OWNER
IndividualJERICHO, NY
$3,300
Dec 28, 2023

Donor Network - Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 70 nodes and 45 connections (59 secondary connections hidden)

Total contributions: $299,450

Top Donors - Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]

Showing top 25 donors by contribution amount

12 Orgs14 Individuals

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 1 harmed.

  • −Labor Unionsconfidence 0.80

    Section 2 of the bill amends the National Labor Relations Act to exclude Indian tribes and their enterprises from certain labor regulations, which could limit the ability of labor unions to organize in these areas (Section 2).

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document.AI-enhanced analysis provides detailed alignment ratings.

Department of Justice

Moderate
Vector: 61%
Pages: 611-614AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill deals with labor relations and NLRB jurisdiction, sharing themes with Project 2025's labor section, but it centers on tribal sovereignty rather than directly advancing the department's goals of family-supporting wages and worker dignity."

Key themes:labor relationsNLRBworker protectionstribal sovereigntyjurisdictional clarity

— 579 — Department of Justice 93. H.R. 5005, Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law No. 107-296, 107th Congress, November 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2135, https://www.congress.gov/107/plaws/publ296/PLAW-107publ296.pdf (accessed February 3, 2023). 94. See, for example, 8 U.S. Code §§ 1103(a)(1) and 1103(g), https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1103 (accessed February 3, 2023). 95. See, for example, 8 U.S. Code §§ 1324–1326, https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/chapter-12/ subchapter-II/part-VIII (accessed February 3, 2023). 96. Press release, “Justice, Labor Departments Reach Settlements with Facebook Resolving Claims of Discrimination Against U.S. Workers and Potential Regulatory Recruitment Violations,” U.S. Department of Justice, October 19, 2021, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-labor-departments-reach-settlements- facebook-resolving-claims-discrimination-against (accessed February 3, 2023). 97. “Every four years, just after the Presidential election, the ‘United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions,’ commonly known as the Plum Book, is published, alternately, by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.” Senate Committee Print No. 114-26, United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate, 114th Cong., 2nd Sess., December 1, 2016, p. iii, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-PLUMBOOK-2016/pdf/GPO-PLUMBOOK-2016.pdf (accessed February 5, 2023). 98. Allen J. Beck, “Race and Ethnicity of Violent Crime Offenders and Arrestees, 2018,” U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Statistical Brief No. NCJ 255969, January 2021, https:// bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/revcoa18.pdf (accessed February 3, 2023). — 581 — 18 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND RELATED AGENCIES Jonathan Berry MISSION STATEMENT At the heart of The Conservative Promise is the resolve to reclaim the role of each American worker as the protagonist in his or her own life and to restore the family as the centerpiece of American life. The role that labor policy plays in that promise is twofold: Give workers the support they need for rewarding, well-paying, and self-driven careers, and restore the family-supporting job as the centerpiece of the American economy. The Judeo-Christian tradition, stretching back to Genesis, has always recognized fruitful work as integral to human dignity, as service to God, neighbor, and family. And Americans have long been known for their work ethic. While it is primarily the culture’s responsibility to affirm the dignity of work, our federal labor and employment agencies have an important role to play by protect- ing workers, setting boundaries for the healthy functioning of labor markets, and ultimately encouraging wages and conditions for jobs that can support a family. OVERVIEW The labor agencies covered in this chapter include the Department of Labor (DOL), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the National Mediation Board (NMB), the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). Congress has provided these agencies with the authority to enforce a wide range of federal statutes regulating workplace conduct, workforce development, employee benefits, labor organization and bargaining, and interna- tional labor conditions.

Department of Labor and Related Agencies

Weak
Vector: 67%
Pages: 624-626AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"The bill addresses tribal sovereignty over labor relations under the NLRA, whereas Project 2025 focuses on revising independent contractor/joint employer definitions and overtime rules; they share only a general labor law theme without substantive policy overlap."

Key themes:NLRAlabor relationsjurisdictional clarity

— 591 — Department of Labor and Related Agencies qualify as an independent contractor or employee under the FLSA and NLRA. The Biden Administration is replacing those rules with vague and expansive definitions that would add uncertainty, increase costs, and reduce options for Americans who want to work independently. l NLRB and DOL should return to their 2019 and 2021 independent contractor rules that provided much-needed clarity for workers and employers. l Congress should establish a bright-line test—based on the level of control an individual exercises over his or her work—to determine whether a payee is an employee or an independent contractor, across all relevant laws. This would prevent continued uncertainty as well as provide continuity across federal laws. l Congress should provide a safe harbor from employer-employee status for companies that offer independent workers access to earned benefits. Doing so would increase access among independent contractors to traditional pooled workplace benefits such as health care and retirement savings accounts. Protect Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship (Joint Employer). Millions of busi- nesses across America engage in mutually beneficial affiliation arrangements with other businesses. These arrangements include janitorial services, staffing firms, construction contractors and subcontractors, technology support services, and many other vendor and contracting services. They also include the nearly 775,000 independently owned franchise businesses, which employ 8.2 million workers across the United States. The franchise structure offers a proven business model for individuals who want to own and operate their own small business. An Obama-era regulation changed the definition of a joint employer to make corporate franchi- sors jointly liable for employees of individual franchisee owners, even without the franchisor exercising any direct control over those employees. The Biden Admin- istration is advancing an even more expansive definition of a joint employer that would upend the franchise business model, taking away ownership and income opportunities from small-business entrepreneurs, costing jobs, and raising prices. l DOL and NLRB should return to the long-standing approach to defining joint employers based on direct and immediate control. l Congress should enact the Save Local Business Act, which would codify the long-standing definition that has existed outside the Obama-era and Biden-proposed rules. — 592 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise Overtime Pay Threshold. Overtime pay is one of the most challenging aspects of the Fair Labor Standards Act rules. “Nonexempt workers” (e.g., workers whose job duties fall within the law’s power or whose total pay is low enough) must be paid overtime (150 percent of the “regular rate”) for every hour over 40 in a work- week. Overtime requirements may discourage employers from offering certain fringe benefits such as reimbursement for education, childcare, or even free meals because the benefits’ value may be included in the “regular rate” that must be paid at 150 percent for all overtime hours. And because some of these fringe ben- efits may be more valuable (and often come with tax preferences that benefit the worker), the goal should be to set a threshold to ensure lower-income workers have the protections of overtime pay without discouraging employers from offering these benefits. l DOL should maintain an overtime threshold that does not punish businesses in lower-cost regions (e.g., the southeast United States). The Trump-era threshold is high enough to capture most line workers in lower-cost regions. One possibility to consider (likely requiring congressional action) would be to automatically update the thresholds every five years using the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) as an inflation adjustment. This could reduce the likelihood of a future Administration attempting to make significant changes but would also impose more adjustments on businesses as those automatic increases take hold. l Congress should clarify that the “regular rate” for overtime pay is based on the salary paid rather than all benefits provided. This would enable employers to offer additional benefits to employees without fear that those benefits would dramatically increase overtime pay. l Congress should provide flexibility to employers and employees to calculate the overtime period over a longer number of weeks. Specifically, employers and employees should be able to set a two- or four- week period over which to calculate overtime. This would give workers greater flexibility to work more hours in one week and fewer hours in the next and would not require the employer to pay them more for that same total number of hours of work during the entire period. Compliance-Assistance Programming. Labor agencies are often tempted to encourage “over compliance” by companies subject to regulation by pursuing “regulation through enforcement” strategies. Rather than giving regulated enti- ties clear boundaries for what they can and cannot do under the law, the agencies

Department of Labor and Related Agencies

Weak
Vector: 64%
Pages: 624-626AI Enhanced

AI Analysis:

"Both the bill and the Project 2025 section address labor law under the NLRA, but the bill focuses on clarifying tribal sovereignty over labor relations on Indian lands, whereas Project 2025 concerns independent contractor/joint employer definitions to protect small businesses; the overlap is limited to general labor policy themes."

Key themes:NLRAlabor relationsemployer definition

— 591 — Department of Labor and Related Agencies qualify as an independent contractor or employee under the FLSA and NLRA. The Biden Administration is replacing those rules with vague and expansive definitions that would add uncertainty, increase costs, and reduce options for Americans who want to work independently. l NLRB and DOL should return to their 2019 and 2021 independent contractor rules that provided much-needed clarity for workers and employers. l Congress should establish a bright-line test—based on the level of control an individual exercises over his or her work—to determine whether a payee is an employee or an independent contractor, across all relevant laws. This would prevent continued uncertainty as well as provide continuity across federal laws. l Congress should provide a safe harbor from employer-employee status for companies that offer independent workers access to earned benefits. Doing so would increase access among independent contractors to traditional pooled workplace benefits such as health care and retirement savings accounts. Protect Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship (Joint Employer). Millions of busi- nesses across America engage in mutually beneficial affiliation arrangements with other businesses. These arrangements include janitorial services, staffing firms, construction contractors and subcontractors, technology support services, and many other vendor and contracting services. They also include the nearly 775,000 independently owned franchise businesses, which employ 8.2 million workers across the United States. The franchise structure offers a proven business model for individuals who want to own and operate their own small business. An Obama-era regulation changed the definition of a joint employer to make corporate franchi- sors jointly liable for employees of individual franchisee owners, even without the franchisor exercising any direct control over those employees. The Biden Admin- istration is advancing an even more expansive definition of a joint employer that would upend the franchise business model, taking away ownership and income opportunities from small-business entrepreneurs, costing jobs, and raising prices. l DOL and NLRB should return to the long-standing approach to defining joint employers based on direct and immediate control. l Congress should enact the Save Local Business Act, which would codify the long-standing definition that has existed outside the Obama-era and Biden-proposed rules.

Showing 3 of 5 policy matches

About These Correlations

Policy matches are calculated using a hybrid approach: initial candidates are found using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text, then an AI model (Llama 3.1 70B) provides detailed alignment ratings and analysis. Ratings range from 1 (minimal alignment) to 5 (very strong alignment). This analysis does not imply direct causation or intent.

Full Policy Text

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