A bill 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.

Bill at a Glance

• Bill: S 4919
• Session: 119
• Jurisdiction: United States (Senate)
• Title (brief): A bill 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.
• Introduced / Read: Introduced and read twice, referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (as of 2026-06-24).
• Sponsors: Lead and co-sponsors include a broad slate of Democratic members (e.g., Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, Maria Cantwell, Tim Kaine, Richard Blumenthal, and others).

1) Purpose and Intent

• The bill aims to strengthen protections against wage theft and to improve recovery of stolen wages for workers.
• It proposes amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the Portal-to-Portal Act of 1947 to close gaps that can allow wage-and-hour violations to go unaddressed.
• It authorizes the Secretary of Labor to administer grants intended to prevent wage and hour violations, suggesting a federal grant program to support enforcement, prevention, and education efforts.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

• ** Amendments to FLSA and Portal-to-Portal Act:**

  • Likely targeted revisions to definitions, coverage, or enforcement mechanisms to deter wage theft and improve remedies. (The exact statutory text is not provided in the summary, but the bill’s stated purpose indicates changes designed to prevent violations and enhance recovery.)

• Recovery of Stolen Wages:

  • Provisions intended to facilitate or expedite the recovery process for workers who have not received due wages.

• Grants to Prevent Violations:

  • Establishment or authorization of a grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (Secretary of Labor).
  • Grants would be directed toward entities (likely including state/local agencies, nonprofit organizations, worker centers, or employers) to prevent wage-and-hour violations, support enforcement, and possibly provide compliance assistance.

• Other Purposes:

  • The bill may include additional measures aligned with strengthening enforcement, improving data collection on wage theft, or enhancing penalties or remedies, though specific details are not provided in the summary.

3) Who or What Would Be Affected

• Workers: Potentially greater protections against wage theft and more accessible avenues to recover unpaid wages.
• Employers and Businesses: Possible new compliance obligations and increased accountability under FLSA and related enforcement provisions.
• State and Local Agencies, Nonprofits, and Advocacy Groups: Likely recipients or partners in the new grant program to prevent wage-and-hour violations and support enforcement.
• Secretary of Labor: Expanded authority to administer and oversee grant programs and enforcement initiatives related to wage theft.

4) Procedural and Timeline Aspects

• Intro/Referral: Introduced in the Senate on 2026-06-24 and read twice.
• Committee Action: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for consideration.
• Next Steps in Process: The bill would need committee consideration, potential amendments, and then full Senate action (and eventually House action or conference if different versions pass). Timelines depend on Senate scheduling and committee priorities.

Potential Impact

• By tightening wage-theft protections and enabling targeted grants, the bill seeks to deter violations, improve enforcement efficiency, and expedite wage recovery for workers.
• If enacted, employers may face enhanced compliance requirements and increased risk of enforcement actions for violations of wage-and-hour laws.
• The grant program could foster collaboration among labor agencies, community organizations, and employers to prevent violations and educate workers about their rights.

Notes

• Specific text, dollar amounts, or detailed mechanisms (e.g., grant allocation formulas, eligible recipients, penalty structures) are not provided in the overview. For a precise understanding, the bill’s full text and any accompanying committee reports would be required.