| Bill Number, Title, and Sponsor |
Description |
Status |
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Discrimination |
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Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 Louise Slaughter (D-NY) |
Prohibits genetic discrimination with respect to health insurance and employment. 'Genetic information' means information about an individual's genetic tests; genetic tests of an individual's family members; or the occurrence of a disease or disorder in family members of the individual. |
May 21, 2008: Signed by the president. |
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Civil Rights Act of 2008 John Lewis (D-GA) |
This bill provides damages for age discrimination by state employers, curtail mandatory arbitration of statutory job bias claims, eliminate the damages cap that applies to Title VII and ADA claims under the Civil Rights Act of 1991, and modify employer defenses under the Equal Pay Act. |
Jan. 23, 2008: Introduced. To House Judiciary, Education and Labor, and Transportation committees. |
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Ted Kennedy (D-MA) |
Same as HR 5129 |
Jan. 24, 2008: Introduced. To Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. |
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Genetic Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 Olympia Snowe (R-ME) |
Same as HR 493. |
Jan. 22, 2007: Introduced. Jan. 31, 2007: To Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. April 10, 2007: Committee report filed. |
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ADA Amendments Act of 2008 Steny Hoyer (D-MD) |
(same as S 3406) |
July 26, 2007: Introduced. To Energy and Commerce; Judiciary; Transportation and Infrastructure; Education and Labor committees. June 25, 2008: Passed House. June 27, 2008: To Senate. |
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ADA Amendments Act of 2008 Thomas Harkin (D-IA) |
This bill amends the definitions of disabilities and impairments, and adds standards for determining whether an impairment substantially limits an individual's major life activity. This bill defines "disability" as "a physical or mental impairment, a record of such impairment, or being regarded as having such impairment." It would provide that employees are protected against discrimination because of a disability. It provides that while an individual regarded as having a disability is protected against discrimination, the "regarded as" provision would not apply to an individual with a minor condition or a "transitory" condition lasting or expected to last six months or less. |
July 31, 2008: Introduced. Sept. 11, 2008: Passed Senate without amendment. Sept. 15, 2008: To House. Sept. 25, 2008: President signed into law. |
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General Interest |
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Jim McDermott (D-WA) |
This bill would allow the states to enter into agreements with the Labor Department to provide temporary extended unemployment compensation benefits to workers who filed their initial jobless claim within the past year and have exhausted their regular benefits. |
Jan. 15, 2008: Introduced. To Ways and Means Committee. |
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Employee Free Choice Act |
This bill would abolish the secret ballot in union elections and allow unions to be recognized when a majority of employees sign authorization cards. |
Feb. 5, 2007: Introduced. Feb. 16, 2007: Amended by Education and Labor Committee. March 1, 2007: Passed House. June 26, 2007: Cloture on the motion to proceed not invoked in Senate |
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Ted Kennedy (D-MA) |
Companion to HR 800 |
March 29, 2007: Introduced. To Health, Education, Labor & Pensions committees. |
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Ted Kennedy (D-MA) |
Same as HR 4934 |
Jan. 22, 2008: Introduced. To Finance Committee. |
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Truth in Employment Act 2007 Steve King (R-IA) |
Does not require an employer to employ any person who seeks or has sought employment with the employer in furtherance of other employment or agency status. |
June 12, 2007: Introduced. Referred to Education and Labor Committee. |
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Jim DeMint (R-SC) |
Companion bill to HR 2670. |
June 7, 2007: Introduced. To Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. |
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Jim McDermott (D-WA) |
This bill seeks to modify the rules for the treatment of individuals as independent contractors or employees. In any case where it is determined that a taxpayer has misclassified an individual as not an employee for employment tax purposes, the secretary of treasury shall inform the secretary of labor about such misclassification and notify the individual of any eligibility for the refund of self-employment taxes. The secretary of the treasury is also required to issue an annual report on worker misclassification. This bill also increases the fines for information return penalties. |
April 15, 2008: Introduced. To Ways and Means Committee. |
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Rob Andrews (D-NJ) |
The bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to clarify that misclassification is a prohibited act and to allow for harsher penalties. The bill would allow for liquidated damages for affected workers and allow for civil penalties not to exceed $10,000. The bill would require employers to keep records on and notify workers of their employment or independent contractor classification and their right to challenge that classification. |
May 21, 2008: Introduced. |
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Independent Contractor Proper Classification Act of 2007 Barack Obama (D-IL) |
This bill provides procedures for the proper classification of employees and independent contractors. The bill also provides for administrative review of classification status. |
Sept. 12, 2007: Introduced. |
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Servicemembers Access to Justice Act of 2008 Robert Casey (D-PA) |
A state or private employer who violates USERRA shall be liable to any person affected for damages in the amount of any wages, salary, benefits, or other compensation denied or lost by such person by reason of the violation; or in a case in which wages, salary, benefits, or other compensation have not been denied or lost to the person, any actual monetary losses sustained by the person as a result of the violation. An employer shall also be liable for any interest on lost wages, salary, or benefits. Further, the bill allows liquidated damages equal to the amount lost or $10,000, whichever is greater, unless the employer can demonstrate good faith in the act or omission giving rise to the cause of action. This bill clarifies that USERRA has no statute of limitations. |
Aug. 1, 2008: Introduced. To Veterans' Affairs Committee. |
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Phil English (R-PA) |
Proposes to reform federal unemployment benefits system. Provides for a repeal of the tax on unemployment compensation. Creates a study commission to evaluate the unemployment compensation program. |
June 21, 2007: Introduced. Referred to Ways and Means, and Education and Labor committees. |
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Employee Misclassification Prevention Act |
This bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to clarify that misclassification is a prohibited act and to allow for harsher penalties. The bill would permit liquidated damages for affected workers and for civil penalties not to exceed $10,000. The bill would require employers to keep records on and notify workers of their employment or independent contractor classification and their right to challenge that classification. |
Sept. 29, 2008: Introduced. To Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. |
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Health Care |
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Health Care Incentive Act Darrell Issa (R-CA) |
Provides for certain health care benefits in determining minimum wage. Permits employer to include the value of creditable health care benefits provided by such employer to an employee in determining wages. |
Jan. 4, 2007: Introduced to Education and Labor Committee. |
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Gene Green (D-TX) |
Directs the secretary of labor to revise regulations concerning the recording and reporting of occupational injuries and illnesses under OSHA. Covers employees who are employed directly by the site-controlling employer or are employed by contractors or temporary help or employee leasing services. 'Site-controlling employer' means the employer that has primary control over the work on a particular work site and supervises the employees on a day-to-day basis on a particular work site. |
Jan. 4, 2007: Introduced to Education and Labor Committee. |
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Sam Johnson (R-TX) |
Amends Title I of Erisa to improve access and choice for entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees. |
Jan. 5, 2007: Introduced. To Education and Labor Committee. |
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Nurse and Patient Safety and Protection Act of 2007 John Conyers (D-MI) |
Directs the secretary of labor to issue an occupational safety health standard to reduce injuries to patients, direct-care registered nurses, and other health care providers by establishing a safe patient handling standard. |
Jan. 10, 2007: Introduced. To Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce committees. |
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Healthy Families Act Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) |
An employer shall provide for each employee not less than seven days of sick leave with pay and employment benefits annually for employees working 30 or more hours per week; or a pro rata number of days or hours of sick leave with pay and employment benefits annually for employees working less than 30 hours per week on a year-round basis; or 1,500 hours throughout the year involved. |
March 15, 2007: Referred to the Education and Labor Committee, and the Oversight and Government Reform, and House Administration committees, 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. |
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Healthy Americans Act Brian Baird (D-WA) |
Provides that within four years of enactment, each adult individual shall have the opportunity to purchase a Healthy Americans Private Insurance plan. Every employer shall pay an employer shared responsibility payment for each calendar year in an amount equal to the product of the number of full-time equivalent employees during the preceding calendar year, multiplied by the applicable percentage of the average Healthy American Private Insurance plan premium amount for that calendar year. |
July 21, 2007: Introduced. |
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Healthy Families Act Ted Kennedy (D-MA) |
Same as HR 1542. |
March 15, 2007: Introduced. Referred to Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. |
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Pete Stark (D-CA) |
Prohibits nurse overtime for patient safety. A provider of services shall not, directly or indirectly, require a nurse to work in excess of the scheduled work shift or duty period of the nurse; 12 hours in a 24-hour period; or 80 hours in a consecutive 14-day period. |
May 3, 2007: Introduced. To Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means committees. |
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Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2007 Danian Inouye (D-HI) |
Establishes minimum nurse staffing ratios at certain Medicare providers. Each hospital shall keep records of nursing staff information, including the current number of licensed and unlicensed nursing staff directly responsible for patient care in each unit of the hospital, identifying specifically the number of registered nurses. Staffing ratios based upon registered nurses' assessment of patient acuity and existing conditions. |
Jan. 4, 2007: Introduced to Finance Committee. |
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Universal Health Care Choice and Access Act Tom Coburn (R-OK) |
A bill to provide comprehensive reform of the health care system of the U.S., and for other purposes. |
March 29, 2007: Introduced. |
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Small Business Health Care Tax Credit Act John Kerry (D-MA) |
Provides that in a case for a qualified small employer, the employee health insurance expenses credit determined is an amount equal to the applicable percentage of the amount paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year for qualified employee health insurance expenses. Applicable percentages provided; establishes per employee dollar limitation. 'Small employer' applies to any employer if—the average gross receipts of such employer for the preceding three taxable years does not exceed $5 million and such employer employed an average of more than one but less than 50 qualified employees on business days during the preceding taxable year. |
Jan. 4, 2007: Introduced. To Finance Committee. |
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Mental Health Parity Act of 2007 Pete Domenici (R-NM) |
Requires health insurance plans that offer mental health coverage to provide that coverage on par with financial and treatment coverage offered for physical illnesses. Includes a small business exemption for companies with fewer than 50 employees, and also includes a cost exemption for all businesses. |
Feb. 13, 2007: Introduced. To Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committees. Feb. 14, 2007: Passed committee. March 27, 2007: Reported by Sen. Kennedy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Sept. 18, 2007: Passed Senate. Sept. 19, 2007: Referred to House Education and Labor Committee. |
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Chris Dodd (D-CT) |
Creates a paid family leave insurance program. Provides that any employer may submit an application to the Secretary for approval of a voluntary plan. The Secretary may require the employer to resubmit the plan for approval on an annual basis. During a period for which the Secretary has approved a plan, the applicant shall provide a voluntary paid benefit under the plan rather than participating in the Program. |
June 21, 2007: Introduced. To Finance Committee. |
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Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2007 Ted Kennedy (D-MA) |
Establishes that a provider of services shall not, directly or indirectly, require a nurse to work in excess of any of the following: the scheduled work shift or duty period of the nurse; 12 hours in a 24-hour period; or 80 hours in a consecutive 14-day period. There is an exception to the overtime rule during a declared state of emergency. |
July 20, 2007: Introduced. To Finance Committee. |
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Immigration |
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Ken Calvert (R-CA) |
Requires employers to conduct eligibility verification. Renames Basic Pilot Program as the "employment eligibility verification system." Applies to any person or other entity that hires an individual for employment. Proposes a phasing-in requirement: one year after the date of enactment, applies to an employer of more than 10,000 individuals; two years after enactment, applies to employers of more than 5,000; three years after enactment, applies to employers of more than 1,000; four years after enactment, applies to employers of more than 500; five years after enactment, applies to employers of more than 250; six years after enactment, applies to employers more than 100; and seven years after enactment, applies to employers of more than one individual. |
Jan. 4, 2007: Introduced. Feb. 2, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. |
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Illegal Immigration Enforcement and Social Security Protection Act of 2007 David Dreier (R-CA) |
Requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to establish and maintain an employment eligibility database. The database shall include data composed of the citizenship status of individuals and the work and residency eligibility information (including expiration dates) with respect to individuals who are not citizens or nationals of the U.S. but are authorized to work in the U.S. Employers will have access to the database. An employer must ensure that employee has a valid Social Security card, and employer may verify eligibility through a telephone verification system or a card-reader verification system prior to hire. |
Jan. 4, 2007: Introduced. Jan. 23, 2007: Referred to House Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism. Feb. 2, 2007: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. |
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10K Run for the Border Act Sue Myrick (R-NC) |
This bill increases penalties against employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens. This bill raises the fine from $250 per illegal alien to $10,000 per illegal alien. |
April 3, 2008: Introduced. To Judiciary Committee. |
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E-Verify Extension and Expansion Act of 2008 Chris Cannon (R-UT) |
This bill would reauthorize and expand the current E-Verify program, which is set to expire Nov. 30, 2008. This bill provides that E-Verify is still voluntary and includes federal pre-emption language to protect the federal government's right to regulate immigration. |
July 10, 2008: Introduced. |
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STRIVE Act of 2007 Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) |
Modifies the H-1B visa program, the employment-based green card program, and also student visa programs, while offering general streamlined adjudication and processing for certain petitions and visas. Increases the overall cap on employment-based visas from 140,000 to 290,000 visas a year; increases the cap for H-1B visas from 65,000 to 115,000 visas per year. |
March 22, 2007: Introduced. To Judiciary, Homeland Security committees. |
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Indentured Servitude Abolition Act George Miller (D-CA) |
Provides protection for workers recruited from abroad. Each employer and foreign labor contractor that engages in foreign labor contracting activity shall ascertain and disclose to each such worker who is recruited for employment such information as the place of employment, compensation, description of employment activities, and period of employment. |
March 29, 2007: Introduced. |
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David Wu (D-OR) |
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide status in each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 for 65,000 H-1B nonimmigrants who have a master's or doctorate degree and meet the requirements for such status and whose employers make scholarship payments to institutions of higher education for undergraduate and postgraduate education. |
March 29, 2007: Introduced. |
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Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act Bart Stupak(D-MI) |
Extends the termination date for the exemption of returning workers from the numerical limitations for temporary workers. |
March 29, 2007: Introduced. |
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SKIL Act John Shadegg (R-AZ) |
Raises the limits on H-1B visas from 65,000 to 115,000 and allows for an increase of 20% after the cap is reached. It provides an exemption for professionals with master's degrees or higher from U.S. universities and those with certification in medical specialties. It would apply the 20,000 cap exemption to those with a master's degree or higher from foreign institutions, not just those in the U.S. |
April 18, 2007: Introduced. |
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Defend the American Dream Act of 2007 Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) |
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide greater protections to domestic and foreign workers under the H-1B nonimmigrant worker program. If the employer employs not less than 50 employees in the U.S., not more than 50 percent of such employees are H-1B non-immigrants. |
May 24, 2007: Introduced. To Judiciary Committee. |
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Local Law Enforcement Restoration Act Dave Weldon (R-FL) |
This bill proposes to increase the cap of H-1B visas with a first increase set at 130,000. |
March 13, 2008: Introduced. To Judiciary Committee. |
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Lamar Smith (R-TX) |
This bill proposes to increase the cap of H-1B visas with a first increase set at 195,000. |
March 14, 2008: Introduced. |
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Ken Calvert (R-CA) |
This bill would extend the voluntary employment eligibility verification program to 10 years. |
March 12, 2008: Introduced. |
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Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) |
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for no pre-emption of certain state and local laws regarding employment eligibility verification requirements. |
Sept. 20, 2007: Introduced. To Judiciary Committee. |
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Combat Illegal Immigration Through Employment Verification Act Leaonard Boswell (D-IA) |
Authorizes the DHS to require any employer or industry which DHS determines to be part of the critical infrastructure, a federal contractor, or directly related to the national security or homeland security of the U.S. to participate in e-verify. This requirement may be applied to both newly hired and current employees. |
Oct. 29, 2007: Introduced to Judiciary; Ways and Means; and Education and Labor committees. |
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SAVE Act Heath Shuler (D-NC) |
This bill mandates that all federal agencies, federal contractors, and large employers use e-verify for workforce eligibility purposes. This bill allows all other employers to be phased-in to the e-verify requirement based on employee headcount. |
Nov. 6, 2007: Introduced. |
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Drake (R-VA) |
This bill creates the Giving Relief to Our Small Businesses Act and extends, for two years, the exemption of returning workers from the numerical limitations for H-2B temporary workers. |
Feb. 8, 2008: Introduced. To Judiciary Committee. |
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Gerlach (R-PA) |
This bill creates the Relief for America's Small and Seasonal Businesses Act. It extends for one year the exemption of returning workers from the numerical limitations for H-2B temporary workers. |
Feb. 26, 2008: Introduced. |
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Johnson (R-TX) |
This bill establishes the New Employment Verification Act that would create a paperless Electronic Employment Verification System (EEVS) that would replace E-Verify. It mandates employer use, but would allow employers—not already required to participate—to choose between EEVS or a new Secure Electronic Employment Verification System (SEEVS). |
Feb. 28, 2008: Introduced. |
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Employee Verification Amendment Act of 2008 Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) |
This bill reauthorizes the E-Verify program for another five years and includes provisions that would ensure that DHS provides timely reimbursements to the Social Security Administration for use of SSA's resources. |
July 29, 2008: Introduced. July 31, 2008: Passed House. Aug. 1, 2008: To Senate Judiciary. |
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Barbara Mikulski(D-MD) |
Same as HR 1843. |
March 29, 2007: Introduced. |
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Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act Harry Reid (D-NV) |
Amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for more effective border and employment enforcement, to prevent illegal immigration, and to reform and rationalize avenues for legal immigration. |
Jan. 4, 2007: Introduced. To Judiciary Committee. |
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H1-B Visa Fraud Prevention Act Susan Collins (R-ME) |
To reduce fraud in certain visa programs for aliens working temporarily in the U.S. The employer shall not place, outsource, lease, or otherwise contract for the placement of an alien admitted or provided status as an H-1B nonimmigrant with another employer if the worksite of the receiving employer is located in a different state. |
May 22, 2007: Introduced. To Judiciary Committee. |
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Richard Durbin (D-IL) |
A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to reduce fraud and abuse in certain visa programs for aliens working temporarily in the U.S. Requires companies to advertise job openings for 30 days on the labor department?s Web site before submitting applications to hire H-1B workers. |
March 29, 2007: Introduced. To Judiciary Committee. |
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Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act Harry Reid (D-NV) |
It is unlawful for an employer to hire, or to recruit or refer for a fee, an alien for employment in the U.S. knowing, or with reckless disregard, that the alien is an unauthorized alien with respect to such employment; or to hire, or to recruit or refer for a fee, for employment in the U.S. an individual unless such employer meets the requirements of document verification and electronic employment verification. |
May 9,2007: Introduced. June 27, 2007: Died. |
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Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) |
Increases the number of visas for skilled workers from 65,000 to 115,000 in 2007, with a flexible market-based adjustment mechanism that would allow the cap to increase to up to 180,000. Specifically, increases the annual allotment of H-1B visas, which provide employers with access to highly educated, foreign professionals in specialty occupations. |
May 15, 2007: Introduced. |
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Jon Kyl (R-AZ) |
It is unlawful for an employer to hire, or to recruit or refer for a fee, an alien for employment in the U.S. knowing or for reckless disregard that the alien is an unauthorized alien with respect to such employment. Employer means any person or entity hiring, recruiting, or referring for a fee an individual for employment in the U.S. |
Aug. 2, 2007: Introduced. To Finance Committee. |
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Mark Pryor (D-AR) |
This immigration bill establishes an electronic employment eligibility verification system. Federal agencies, federal contractors, and large employers are first required to implement the system within one year of enactment. All other employers are phased-in, depending on size, within four years of enactment. This bill also requires employers to e-verify all current employees within four years of enactment. |
Nov. 15, 2007: Introduced. |
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Jeff Sessions (R-AL) |
This bill creates the Worksite Enforcement Act of 2008. It provides that it is unlawful for an employer to hire, or to recruit or refer for a fee, an alien for employment in the U.S. knowing or with reckless disregard that the alien is an unauthorized alien with respect to such employment; or to hire, or to recruit or refer for a fee, for employment in the U.S. an individual without verifying eligibility of individual. It is unlawful for an employer, after hiring an alien for employment, to continue to employ the alien in the U.S. knowing or with reckless disregard that the alien is (or has become) an unauthorized alien with respect to such employment. An employer who uses a contract, subcontract, or exchange to obtain the labor of an alien in the U.S. knowing that the alien is an unauthorized alien with respect to performing such labor, shall be considered to have hired the alien for employment in violation of this law. |
March 6, 2008: Introduced. |
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Visa Efficiency and E-Verify Act of 2008 Robert Menendez (D-NJ) |
This bill would extend the E-Verify program by five years and recapture unused visas. The bill aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to recapture visas that were authorized between fiscal year 1992 and 2007, but went unused due to bureaucratic delay. The bill also would prevent visas from being lost in the future by rolling them over to the following fiscal year. The visa recapture applies to both employment-based visas and family-based visas. |
July 31, 2008: Introduced. To Judiciary Committee. |
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Minimum Wage |
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Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 George Miller (D-CA) |
Raises the federal minimum wage on the following schedule: $5.85 an hour, beginning on the 60th day after the date of enactment of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007; $6.55 an hour, beginning 12 months after that 60th day; and $7.25 an hour, beginning 24 months after that 60th day. |
Jan 5, 2007: Introduced. To Education and Labor Committee. Jan. 10, 2007: Passed House. Jan. 25, 2007: Passed Senate Finance Committee. Feb. 1, 2007: Passed Senate as amended. |
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Minimum Wage Fairness Act of 2007 Darrell Issa (R-CA) |
Provides a credit for employers of tipped employees in determining the minimum wage required in states that require employers to pay a minimum wage at a rate higher than the federal rate. |
Jan. 4, 2007: Introduced. To Education and Labor Committee. |
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Working Americans Growing the Economy (WAGE) Act of 2007 Pete Wilson (R-NM) |
Increases the minimum wage and provides an alternative minimum wage as an incentive to an employer to provide health care and child care benefits. Sets wage at $5.85 an hour, beginning on the 60th day after the date of enactment; $6.55 beginning 12 months after that 60th day; $7.25 beginning 24 months after that 60th day. Alternatively, if an employer provides employee health care or child care benefits not less than $2,500 per year, wage is $5.15 an hour, beginning on the 60th day after the date of enactment; $5.55 beginning 12 months after that 60th day; $6.25 beginning 24 months after that 60th day. |
Jan. 4, 2007: Introduced. To Education and Labor Committee. |
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Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2007. Chuck Rangel (D-NY) |
Extends work opportunity tax credit through 2008. Qualifies certain individuals between age 18 and 40 living in an empowerment zone, enterprise community, or renewal community for the work opportunity tax credit, and expands the eligibility for, and amount of, such credit for certain disabled veterans. Increases to $125,000 the expensing allowance for small business assets and extends such increased allowance through 2010. Allows employers to claim a business tax credit for Social Security taxes paid with respect to employee cash tips without regard to any increase in the federal minimum wage rate. Allows a full credit against alternative minimum tax liability for the work opportunity tax credit and the employer credit for Social Security taxes paid with respect to employee cash tips. Treats certain businesses jointly owned by married couples as sole proprietorships for tax purposes. Provides any preferential tax rates on capital gains and dividend income to certain dependents of taxpayers. Grants the Internal Revenue Service San an additional four months to notify taxpayers of tax deficiencies before the suspension period for interest and penalties on underpayments takes effect. |
Feb. 9, 2007: Introduced. Feb. 16, 2007: Passed House,as amended. To Senate. Feb. 27, 2007: Placed on Senate calendar. |
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Tax |
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Small Business Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2007 Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) |
Provides tax incentives for small businesses. A qualified small business may elect to have a taxable year, other than the required taxable year, which ends on the last day of April through November. |
Jan. 4, 2007: Introduced to House Ways and Means Committee. |
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UI Modernization Act Jim McDermott (D-WA) |
Extends the 0.2% temporary FUTA surtax for 5 years from 2008 through 2012 and cost employers $2 billion per year. The funds would be used to provide one time funding to states that elect to enact new federally established state unemployment benefit expansions. |
May 9, 2007: Introduced. |
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UI Modernization Act Jim McDermott (D-WA) |
Extends the 0.2% temporary FUTA surtax for 5 years from 2008 through 2012 and cost employers $2 billion per year. The funds would be used to provide one time funding to states that elect to enact new federally established state unemployment benefit expansions. |
May 9, 2007: Introduced. |
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Small Business Tax Flexibility Act of 2007 Olympia Snowe (R-ME) |
Permits start-up partnerships and S corporations to elect taxable years other than required years, which end on the last day of any of April through November. |
Jan. 11, 2007: Introduced to Finance Committee. |
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Wage and Hour |
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Minimum Wage Fairness Act of 2007 Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) |
This bill would amend Title VII, ADEA, ADA, and the Rehabilitation Act to specify that time limits for filing pay discrimination claims begin to run each time an employee receives a paycheck that manifests discrimination, not just when the employer makes a discriminatory pay decision. |
June 22, 2007: Introduced. July 31, 2007: Passed House. Aug. 2, 2007 To Senate. |
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Ted Kennedy (D-MA) |
Same as HR 2831 |
July 20, 2007: Introduced. To Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Jan. 24, 2008: Hearing held. Sept. 23, 2008: Judiciary Committee hearing. |
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The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act George Miller (D-CA) |
To amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to permit leave to care for a same-sex spouse, domestic partner, parent-in-law, adult child, sibling, or grandparent who has a serious health condition. |
June 20, 2007: Introduced. April 21, 2008: Cloture motion presented. Sept. 23, 2008: Judiciary Committee hearing. |
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Working Families Flexibility Act Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) |
An employee may apply to the employer for a change in the employee's terms or conditions of employment if the change relates to the number of hours the employee is required to work; the times when the employee is required to work; or where the employee is required to work. |
Dec. 6, 2007: Introduced. |
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Family Leave Insurance Act of 2008 Pete Stark (D-CA) |
This bill creates the Family Leave Insurance Act of 2008 to establish a paid family leave program. To be eligible, an employee must have earned wages with a covered employer for a minimum of 6 months prior to filing an application for leave benefits under this title; and has been employed by the employer with respect to whom paid leave is requested for at least 625 hours of service during the previous 6 months. An eligible employee of a covered employer shall be entitled to a family and medical leave insurance benefit for a total of 12 work weeks of leave during any 12-month period for 1 or more of the following reasons: (1) Because of the birth of a son or daughter of the employee and in order to care for such son or daughter; (2) Because of the placement of a son or daughter with the employee for adoption or foster care; (3) In order to care for a child, parent, spouse, domestic partner, grandchild, grandparent, or sibling of the employee and who has a serious health condition; (4) Because of a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the functions of the position of such employee; (5) Because of any qualifying exigency (as the Secretary of Labor shall, by regulation, determine) arising out of the fact that the spouse, or a son, daughter, or parent of the employee is on active duty (or has been notified of an impending call or order to active duty) in the Armed Forces of the United States in support of a contingency operation; or (6) In order to care for a child, parent, spouse, domestic partner, grandchild, grandparent, sibling, or next of kin of the employee who is a covered service member. |
April 22, 2008: Introduced. To Ways and Means, Oversight and Government Reform, and Education and Labor committees. |
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Family Fairness Act of 2008 Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) Family Leave Insurance Act of 2008 Pete Stark (D-CA) |
This bill amends the FMLA to eliminate the hours of service requirement for benefits under this Act. |
May 13, 2008: Introduced. |
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Ted Kennedy (D-MA) |
(same as HR 4301) |
Dec. 6, 2007: Introduced. |
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Family Fairness Act of 2008 Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) |
This bill amends the FMLA to eliminate the hours of service requirement for benefits under this Act. |
May 13, 2008: Introduced. |
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Family and Medical Leave Enhancement Act Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) |
This bill would allow employees at companies with 25 or more employees to take unpaid family and medical leave. Currently, companies with 50 or more employees are eligible for leave under the FMLA. This bill would further provide up to 24 hours of unpaid leave, during any 12-month period, for parents and grandparents to go to parent-teacher conferences or to take their children, grandchildren or other family members to the doctor for regular medical or dental appointments. This provision would apply for businesses with 25 or more employees. |
Sept. 29, 2008: Introduced. To Education and Labor Committee. |
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Family Leave Act Ted Stevens (R-AK) |
Requires the federal government to provide at least eight weeks of paid leave to female employees after childbirth, and a minimum of five weeks of paid leave to new fathers and employees who adopt children. Applies to federal employees. |
Jan. 4, 2007: Introduced. |
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