Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Employee Ownership Representation Act of 2025
A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Held at the desk.
Passed one chamber, waiting for the other to take it up
Passed one chamber, and the other has not yet sent it to a committee or put it on its calendar.
The other chamber will hand it to a committee, place it on its calendar, or leave it where it is. Nothing has been decided, and a bill can sit here indefinitely.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed Senate unanimous consent
- Awaiting House
The Senate by unanimous consent (no one objected, so there was no vote): no senator's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
The Employee Ownership Representation Act of 2025 aims to expand the membership of the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans to include employee ownership representatives. It mandates the establishment of an Office of Employee Ownership within the Department of Labor. This office will be led by a Director responsible for the Employee Ownership Initiative. Additionally, the bill creates an Advisory Council on Employee Ownership consisting of seven members. It also establishes the position of Advocate for Employee Ownership to serve as a liaison and educator. These provisions are designed to promote and expand employee ownership practices across the country.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +4
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill creates an Advocate to assist with employee ownership as a business succession planning option.
- Scored +3
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill provides resources for business succession planning through employee ownership.
- Scored +3
Is this likely to grow the economy?
The bill promotes the expansion of employee ownership practices to boost economic engagement.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill mandates the creation of new government offices, councils, and staff positions.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expanded Representation on Advisory Council: The bill expands the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare ands Pension Benefit Plans to include two representatives of employee ownership organizations (Section 2). This ensures that more specific interests are considered in pension and welfare planning.
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New Office for Employee Ownership: The Secretary of Labor will establish the Office of Employee Ownership (Section 3). This provides a dedicated entity within the Department of Labor to carry out the Employee Ownership Initiative.
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Creation of an Advisory Council: An Advisory Council on Employee Ownership will be established to advise the Secretary of Labor (Section 4). This council includes diverse perspectives, including representatives for employees, companies with employee stock ownership plans, and service providers.
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Establishment of an Advocate: The bill creates an Advocate for Employee Ownership (Section 5). This person acts as a liaison between the Department of Labor, employers, and workers.
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Public Education and Assistance: The Advocate is tasked with providing public education and assistance related to expanding employee ownership (Section 5). This includes helping resolve disputes between the Department of Labor and various stakeholders.
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Legislative and Administrative Recommendations: The Advocate will identify and recommend changes to increase practices that promote employee ownership (Section 5).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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New Government Positions and Offices: The bill requires the establishment of an Office of Employee Ownership, an Advisory Council on Employee Ownership, and an Advocate for Employee Ownership (Sections 3, 4, and 5). This creates new administrative roles and structures within the federal government.
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Government Spending: The bill mandates compensation for Council members and the Advocate (Sections 4 and 5), and it authorizes appropriations for the Advocate's duties (Section 5). This involves the use of federal funds for salaries, travel expenses, and staff.
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 business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides resources for business succession planning through employee ownership. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill focuses on expanding employee ownership which can increase household wealth through company equity. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The promotion of employee ownership may provide more pathways to asset accumulation for workers. Would union members be better off under this? — The bill promotes worker-owned cooperatives and stock ownership as forms of economic participation.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill creates an Advocate to assist with employee ownership as a business succession planning option. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill promotes the expansion of employee ownership practices to boost economic engagement. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The bill promotes employee ownership models which can provide workers with more stake in their companies. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill mandates the creation of new government offices, councils, and staff positions.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Advocate to submit annual reports to Congress and make them available to the public.
- 10/17/2025
- Held at the desk.
- Received in the House.
- 10/16/2025
- Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 10/9/2025
- Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7101-7103; text: CR S7102-7103)
- 9/11/2025
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 157.
- 7/30/2025
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 7/29/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 5/13/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Maggie HassanDemocrat · New Hampshire