Future in Logging Careers Act
Sponsored By: Representative Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to change how child labor rules apply in logging. It would allow most 16- and 17-year-olds to work in timber harvesting jobs.
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- Young workers and families: 16- and 17-year-olds would be permitted to perform most timber harvesting tasks, but the Secretary of Labor could still restrict occupations the Secretary declares "particularly hazardous."
- Employers: The bill creates clear definitions for "timber harvesting employer" and "mechanized timber harvesting employer" and lists mechanized equipment like whole-tree processors, feller-bunchers, excavators, and log loaders that fall under the rules.
- Regulators: The Secretary of Labor retains authority to identify and apply child-labor protections to specific hazardous timber occupations for 16- and 17-year-olds.
- Family-run operations: Work for a timber employer owned or run by a teen's parent would be treated differently and would not receive the same protective application described above.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More teen logging jobs, with limits
If enacted, this would let 16- and 17-year-olds work for logging employers unless the job is labeled hazardous by the Labor Secretary. Hazardous logging jobs would still be off-limits, except when the employer is owned or run by the teen’s parent or a person acting as a parent. The bill would define which businesses count as timber or mechanized timber harvesting employers and list common machines, like feller-bunchers, skidders, excavators, and log loaders. These changes would take effect upon enactment and include no new funding.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
ME • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]
PA • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Fulcher
ID • R
Sponsored 2/11/2025
Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov