Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act
To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the Portal-to-Portal Act of 1947 to prevent wage theft and assist in the recovery of stolen wages, to authorize the Secretary of Labor to administer grants to prevent wage and hour violations, and for other purposes.
This bill aims to update and strengthen laws against wage theft by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Portal-to-Portal Act. Wage theft involves employers not paying their workers the full amount they're owed for their time and labor. The bill seeks to prevent such thefts and help workers recover stolen wages.
It would mainly affect workers who have experienced wage theft and employers who may be violating wage and hour laws. By authorizing the Secretary of Labor to administer grants to prevent wage and hour violations, the bill hopes to provide resources for better enforcement and education on wage laws.
As of June 25, 2026, the bill has just been introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. This means it's in the early stages of the legislative process, where it will be reviewed, possibly amended, and then voted on by the full committee before moving forward.
