Preventing Child Labor Exploitation in Federal Contracting Act
Sponsored By: Senator Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
Introduced
Summary
This bill makes contractor accountability for child labor the centerpiece of federal purchasing. It ties new annual representations and certifications to bids, creates a public list and debarment path for violators, raises civil penalties, and requires training and a GAO study.
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- Families and children: Aims to reduce child labor by blocking firms with recent child-labor findings from federal supply chains. Entities with final determinations in the prior 3 years can be identified and barred during an initial listing that begins two years after enactment and lasts at least four years.
- Contractors and subcontractors: Requires annual representations and a revised certification about any final child-labor determination in the prior 3 years and the same check on subcontractors. False statements can trigger suspension, debarment, and potential False Claims Act exposure; firms may negotiate corrective measures with the Secretary to avoid listing.
- Federal agencies and procurement officials: The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council must update the Federal Acquisition Regulation within 18 months to implement these rules. The Department of Labor must provide new training and the Government Accountability Office must study contractor violations and report within two years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Much higher fines for child labor
If enacted, civil fines for child-labor violations would rise sharply. One penalty amount would increase from $11,000 to $100,000 and another from $50,000 to $500,000. These higher fines would apply to violations occurring on or after enactment.
New child-labor rules for contractors
If enacted, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council would change rules within 18 months to require annual contractor certifications. Certifications would report any final finding, arbitral award, decision, or civil judgment for child-labor in the past 3 years. Offerors must collect the same certification from every subcontractor or service provider they use. Two years after enactment, Labor would publish a yearly List of Ineligible Entities and pursue suspension and debarment. Listed firms could be barred from federal solicitations and subcontracts for at least 4 years, and knowing failures could trigger False Claims Act penalties.
Agency training and reporting rules
If enacted, the Secretary of Labor would set up training for Labor Department and other agency staff, including HHS and DHS, on spotting child-labor violations. Starting the first full calendar year after two years from enactment, Labor would publish an annual report on the ineligible list, corrective measures, contract amounts, and effectiveness. The bill would define key terms, including which congressional committees get reports and who counts as an executive agency. The bill would not authorize new funds, so agencies must use existing money to carry out these rules.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
MO • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov