# 119-hr-5206: Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2025

119-hr-5206, Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1] (D-NJ); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5206
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5206
- Congress: 119
- Title: Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-09-08
- Sponsor: Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 52
- Policy area: Labor and Employment
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Expands unemployment benefits to workers sidelined by strikes and lockouts.** This bill would let people who cannot work because of a labor dispute collect unemployment benefits and removes the usual work-availability requirement while the dispute continues. - Workers and families: Striking or locked-out workers would be eligible for unemployment compensation even if still formally employed. Benefits could start as early as 14 days after a strike begins or when an employer hires permanent replacement workers. - Claimants' eligibility: Claimants affected by a labor dispute would be exempt from the Social Security Act's work-availability requirement while the dispute persists or until they become unemployed after it ends. - Program rules: The bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code and the Social Security Act so state unemployment programs treat these individuals as unemployed for benefit purposes.

## Cosponsors (52)

- Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14] (D-NY), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2] (D-RI), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4] (D-OR), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] (D-PA), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13] (D-IL), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35] (D-TX), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] (D-NC), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] (D-NJ), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8] (D-NJ), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] (D-MI), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5] (D-MN), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6] (D-WA), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2025-09-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26] (D-NY), 2025-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3] (D-MD), 2025-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (D-IL), 2025-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2025-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA), 2025-09-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15] (D-CA), 2025-09-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (D-CT), 2025-09-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2025-10-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2025-10-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2025-10-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2025-10-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8] (D-MI), 2025-10-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43] (D-CA), 2025-11-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4] (D-NC), 2025-12-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3] (D-KY), 2025-12-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10] (D-NY), 2026-01-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2026-02-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2026-03-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15] (D-NY), 2026-04-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1] (D-IN), 2026-04-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2026-05-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), 2026-06-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2026-06-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19] (D-NY), 2026-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22] (D-NY), 2026-06-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3] (D-NJ), 2026-07-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Unemployment benefits during strikes and lockouts: benefit, high. If enacted, you could get unemployment benefits if you are employed but cannot work because of a labor dispute, strike, or lockout. The bill uses a broad definition, covering disputes over pay, hours, conditions, or union representation, and indirect shutdowns. Payments would start on the earlier o…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-hr-5390: FAMILY Act
- 119-hr-15: Equality Act
- 119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025
- 119-hr-12: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-5206 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5206)

## Related
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [119-hr-5390: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5390)
- [119-hr-15: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-15)
- [119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1589)
- [119-hr-12: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-12)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5206 (as of 2026-09-21).