# 117-hr-738: Essential Pay for Essential Workers Act

117-hr-738, Essential Pay for Essential Workers Act, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ); status Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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. (as of 2026-10-15).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-738
- As of: 2026-10-15
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-738
- Congress: 117
- Title: Essential Pay for Essential Workers Act
- Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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.
- Introduced: 2021-02-02
- Sponsor: Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 20
- Policy area: Taxation
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-15

## Summary

Essential Pay for Essential Workers Act

## Cosponsors (20)

- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2021-02-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2021-02-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2021-02-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2021-02-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN), 2021-02-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5] (D-FL), 2021-02-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. San Nicolas, Michael F. Q. [D-GU-At Large] (D-GU), 2021-02-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] (D-OH), 2021-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2021-02-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2021-02-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vela, Filemon [D-TX-34] (D-TX), 2021-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2021-02-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14] (D-NY), 2021-02-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5] (D-GA), 2021-02-25T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bowman, Jamaal [D-NY-16] (D-NY), 2021-02-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2021-03-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20] (D-FL), 2021-03-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15] (D-NY), 2021-04-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] (D-MS), 2021-04-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (D-TX), 2021-02-22T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 117-hr-1834: Hate Crimes Commission Act of 2021
- 117-hr-5: Equality Act
- 117-hr-842: Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2021
- 117-hr-695: USPS Fairness Act
- 117-hr-7: Paycheck Fairness Act
- 117-hjres-17: Removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment.

## Sources
- [117-hr-738 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/738)

## Related
- [117-hr-1834: Hate Crimes Commission Act of 2021](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1834)
- [117-hr-5: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5)
- [117-hr-842: Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2021](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-842)
- [117-hr-695: USPS Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-695)
- [117-hr-7: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-7)
- [117-hjres-17: Removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment.](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hjres-17)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-738 (as of 2026-10-15).