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HR7002119th CongressWALLET

Justice for Exploited Children Act

Sponsored By: Representative Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]

Introduced

Summary

Strengthens criminal and civil penalties for child labor violations. This bill would boost fines and prison terms and create mandatory penalties when minors suffer death or serious injury.

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  • Children and families: The bill focuses on deterring dangerous child labor by increasing criminal penalties, including fines up to $500,000 and prison terms up to 10 years for willful or fatal violations.
  • Employers: Civil penalties become a tiered schedule applied per violation, typically $1,000–$150,000 and doubled for repeated or willful offenses. Death-related civil fines run $50,000–$601,150 per violation and are doubled for repeated or willful violations.
  • Regulators and courts: The bill requires mandatory application of certain death-related penalties, clarifies statutory cross-references, and makes penalties explicitly apply on a per-violation basis.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

New criminal penalties for child labor

If enacted, the bill would add criminal penalties for repeated or willful child labor violations. Conviction for a repeated or willful violation would carry a fine up to $100,000, or up to 5 years in prison, or both. A larger penalty would apply if the violation was willful and caused death or serious injury to an employee under 18, or if repeated violations each caused such harm: fine up to $500,000, or up to 10 years in prison, or both. These criminal penalties would apply to offenses on or after the date of enactment and take effect upon conviction.

Higher civil fines for child labor

If enacted, the bill would raise civil fines for violations of child labor rules. General fines would be $1,000 to $150,000 per violation. Those fines would be doubled for repeated or willful violations. A higher-tier fine would be $25,000 to $601,150 per violation and would apply as written in the bill. If a violation causes the death of a worker under 18, fines would be $50,000 to $601,150 per violation, doubled for repeated or willful violations. These civil penalties would apply to violations on or after the date of enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]

MI • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 1/9/2026

  • Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 1/9/2026

  • Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 1/9/2026

  • Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 1/9/2026

  • Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 1/9/2026

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 1/9/2026

  • Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 1/9/2026

  • Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]

    KY • D

    Sponsored 1/12/2026

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 4/2/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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