Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)
Worker Rights and Support Act
A Democratic bill with 13 Democratic cosponsors · See all 13 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Worker Rights and Support Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require employers to provide specific breaks for employees. It mandates 30-minute meal breaks every 6 hours and rest or restroom breaks every 4 hours. It also requires employers to provide medical breaks of up to 20 minutes when requested due to a medical condition. These rules do not replace collective bargaining agreements or state laws that offer more protection. The bill also establishes penalties for employers who violate these break requirements.
Yes· 3 of 20
- Scored +8
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
Specifically guarantees paid medical breaks for those with communicated medical conditions.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Provides mandated paid breaks and premium pay for on-call meal breaks, benefiting hourly workers.
- Scored +6
Would union members be better off under this?
Protects collective bargaining agreements while establishing a federal floor for break rights.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Would business owners be better off under this?
Imposes new costs for paid breaks and increases legal liability for non-compliance.
- Scored -3
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
Increases compliance costs and potential legal liabilities for small business employers regarding break mandates.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Guaranteed Meal Breaks: Employees would be entitled to at least 30 minutes for a meal every 6 hours of work (Section 8(a)(1)).
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Payment for On-Call Breaks: If an employee cannot leave the site or is not fully relieved of work during a meal break, the employer must pay them at least one and one-half times their regular rate (Section 8(a)(2)(B)).
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Rest and Restroom Access: Employees are guaranteed a break every 4 hours that is at least 10 minutes or a reasonable time to use the nearest functioning and accessible restroom, which is paid at the regular rate (Section 8(b)(1)-(2)).
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Medical Accommodations: Employees can receive paid breaks up to 20 minutes for medical conditions communicated to the employer by a health care provider (Section 8(c)(1)-(2)).
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Legal Recourse: The bill allows for legal or equitable relief for employees when an employer violates these break provisions (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Unpaid Meal Breaks: Under general rules, employers are not required to pay employees for the 30-minute meal break (Section 8(a)(2)(A)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Specifically guarantees paid medical breaks for those with communicated medical conditions. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Provides mandated paid breaks and premium pay for on-call meal breaks, benefiting hourly workers. Would union members be better off under this? — Protects collective bargaining agreements while establishing a federal floor for break rights. Would immigrants be better off under this? — Extends essential labor protections to all employees regardless of status. Would men be better off under this? — Improves workplace conditions and provides medical break protections. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Increases labor protections and guaranteed break times for workers. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Improves working conditions and guarantees break times. Would women be better off under this? — Improves workplace conditions and provides medical break protections. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Increases labor protections and guaranteed break times for workers. Would students be better off under this? — Provides protections for students working part-time hourly jobs. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Provides enhanced protections for a workforce often overrepresented in hourly roles. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Provides enhanced protections for a workforce often overrepresented in hourly roles. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Provides enhanced protections for a workforce often overrepresented in hourly roles. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Provides enhanced protections for a workforce often overrepresented in hourly roles. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Provides enhanced protections for a workforce often overrepresented in hourly roles. Would business owners be better off under this? — Imposes new costs for paid breaks and increases legal liability for non-compliance.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — Mandates paid medical breaks, which supports employees with disabilities or chronic health conditions. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Increases potential earnings through paid on-call meal breaks and paid rest breaks.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — Establishes new federal mandates and standards for employee breaks across the country.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Provides guaranteed paid medical breaks for employees with communicated health conditions.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — Ensures that new break requirements do not supersede existing collective bargaining agreements. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Increases compliance costs and potential legal liabilities for small business employers regarding break mandates.
- 9/14/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 7/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/21/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 8 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Alma AdamsDemocrat · North Carolina
Troy CarterDemocrat · Louisiana
Maxwell FrostDemocrat · Florida
Adelita GrijalvaDemocrat · Arizona
Summer LeeDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Seth MagazinerDemocrat · Rhode Island
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Delia RamirezDemocrat · Illinois
Bennie ThompsonDemocrat · Mississippi
Mark TakanoDemocrat · California
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Frederica WilsonDemocrat · Florida