Bill would raise worker protection fines up to $800,000 per violation
In committeeH.R. 6597Latest action
Sponsor: Robert C. "Bobby" Scott · Representative · VA
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Official title: LET’S Protect Workers Act
119th Congress
Topics: Jobs & the economy
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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HR 6597 sharply raises federal fines for child labor, wage, safety, and mine violations, with some penalties reaching $800,000.
65-second read · 5 questions answered below
What does this do?
HR 6597 increases the maximum fines employers can face for violating federal worker protection laws across several areas, including child labor, minimum wage and overtime, workplace safety, farmworker protections, mine safety, and family medical leave. For example, fines for serious or repeated workplace safety violations would rise from a current maximum of $70,000 to $800,000. Fines for child labor violations causing death or serious injury could reach $700,000.
Who does it affect?
Workers in construction, agriculture, mining, and food service would be subject to stronger enforcement of existing legal protections. Employers with repeated violations, company directors or officers, and health insurance plan administrators are among those who would face new or higher financial consequences.
Why does it matter?
Current fines are low enough that some employers find it cheaper to break the law than to comply with it. Higher penalties could change that calculation, and new rules around recordkeeping and mine shutdowns would limit strategies companies currently use to delay or avoid consequences.
What does it cost, and who pays?
- Safety fines up to $800,000 per violation
- Child labor fines up to $700,000
- Union violations up to $50,000 each
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedDec 10, 2025
- House committeeYou are here · Dec 10, 2025
- House vote
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and House Administration, 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.