Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act
Sponsored By: Representative Stauber
Introduced
Summary
Would create a federal framework guaranteeing collective bargaining rights for state and local public safety officers. The bill emphasizes labor-management cooperation, binding interest arbitration for pay and working conditions, and gives the Federal Labor Relations Authority a central role in deciding whether States meet the standard.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Basic bargaining rights for public safety officers
This bill would set a federal floor for bargaining rights for public safety officers. Officers could form or join a union and choose one union to represent them. Employers would have to recognize a majority-chosen union, bargain over pay, hours, and working conditions, and put deals in writing. Binding arbitration would be available if talks deadlock. States or courts would enforce these rights.
No strikes that disrupt emergency services
This bill would ban strikes, sickouts, slowdowns, lockouts, and similar actions that measurably disrupt emergency services. The ban would apply when the action is meant to force agreement on a contract. It would not override any State or local law about public safety officer strikes.
Federal backup rules and enforcement for bargaining
The federal Authority would review each State’s bargaining laws within 180 days of enactment. If a State falls short, the Authority would issue bargaining rules within 1 year. Federal rules would start on the later of 2 years after enactment or the end of the State’s first regular legislative session after the decision; later decisions follow the same timing. The Authority could apply federal rules only to officer categories not covered by State law. It could run elections, decide units, handle unfair labor cases, issue subpoenas, and ask courts to enforce orders; parties could sue in district court to enforce orders unless the Authority has already asked a court.
Keeps stronger state laws and existing contracts
This bill would not override State or local laws that give equal or greater rights than the federal floor. Current union recognitions, elections, and contracts in place before enactment would remain valid. States could still enforce right-to-work laws that bar required union membership or fees. It also would not preempt a State or local law just because it does not require bargaining over pensions, retirement, or health benefits.
Covers small towns’ public safety employees
States would not be allowed to exclude very small local governments from coverage. The rule would cover a subdivision with fewer than 5,000 people or fewer than 25 full-time employees. Elected officials and appointed board or commission members would be excluded.
Funding allowed to run these rules
Congress would be allowed to provide whatever money is needed to carry out this Act. No dollar amount or budget year is set in this bill. Any actual spending would still need future appropriations.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Stauber
MN • R
Cosponsors
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 2/21/2025
Van Drew
NJ • R
Sponsored 2/21/2025
Bost
IL • R
Sponsored 2/21/2025
Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
ME • D
Sponsored 2/21/2025
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 2/21/2025
Kean
NJ • R
Sponsored 2/21/2025
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 2/21/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 2/21/2025
Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
NV • D
Sponsored 2/21/2025
Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/24/2025
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
NJ • R
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 3/11/2025
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 3/14/2025
Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 3/18/2025
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 3/27/2025
Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]
MN • D
Sponsored 3/31/2025
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/31/2025
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/7/2025
Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 4/28/2025
Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/6/2025
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 5/13/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 5/21/2025
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
NM • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Sherrill
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2]
NY • R
Sponsored 6/23/2025
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Sponsored 6/30/2025
Soto
FL • D
Sponsored 6/30/2025
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 7/10/2025
Pallone
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Levin
CA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Bresnahan
PA • R
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/5/2026
Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
OH • D
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9]
PA • R
Sponsored 2/9/2026
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/20/2026
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Rep. James, John [R-MI-10]
MI • R
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 4/9/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov