A Democratic bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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 "Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2025" seeks to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Social Security Act. This bill aims to allow individuals engaged in a labor dispute to receive unemployment benefits. It covers people unable to work due to disputes regarding employment terms, tenure, or conditions. The legislation also applies to those unable to work as an indirect result of such disputes. Benefits would begin based on specific timelines related to strikes, lock-outs, or the hiring of permanent replacement workers.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +8
Would union members be better off under this?
The bill directly benefits union members by allowing them to receive unemployment compensation while participating in strikes or lock-outs.
- Scored +7
Does this increase support for people who lose their jobs?
The bill extends unemployment benefit eligibility to individuals unable to work due to labor disputes, such as strikes or lock-outs.
- Scored +6
Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise?
By providing financial support during labor disputes, the bill strengthens the economic position of workers engaged in collective bargaining or strikes.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Unemployment compensation for labor disputes: Individuals who are employed but unable to work due to a labor dispute—including controversies over terms, tenure, or conditions of employment—could receive compensation as though they were unemployed. This includes those unable to work as an indirect result of the dispute. (Section 2(a))
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Exemption from work availability requirements: The bill amends the Social Security Act so that individuals unable to work due to a labor dispute are not subject to the standard claimant requirements regarding work availability. (Section 2(b))
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
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 union members be better off under this? — The bill directly benefits union members by allowing them to receive unemployment compensation while participating in strikes or lock-outs. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides a safety net for workers who may lose income during labor disputes, which helps protect low-income households. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The provision of unemployment benefits during labor disputes offers financial stability to middle-income workers.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this increase support for people who lose their jobs? — The bill extends unemployment benefit eligibility to individuals unable to work due to labor disputes, such as strikes or lock-outs. Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — By providing financial support during labor disputes, the bill strengthens the economic position of workers engaged in collective bargaining or strikes.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Providing unemployment benefits to striking workers can help prevent income loss from leading to poverty during labor disputes.
- 2/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/3/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/18/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/8/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 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.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont