A Democratic bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
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
This bill, known as the FABRIC Act, introduces new rules for the U.S. garment industry to protect workers and hold businesses accountable. It bans employers from paying garment workers by the piece rate, requiring them to pay at least regular hourly minimum wages instead. Manufacturers and contractors must now register annually with the Department of Labor, provide detailed business information, and pay a registration fee. The legislation also establishes joint liability for major brands and contractors when labor violations occur. Additionally, the bill creates a new Office of the Garment Industry within the Department of Labor and sets up a grant program to support domestic garment manufacturing.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill increases wage stability and protections for garment industry workers by mandating hourly wages instead of piece rates.
- Scored +5
Would union members be better off under this?
The bill provides priority in grant awards to entities with collective bargaining agreements and increases wage enforcement.
- Scored +4
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The act provides competitive grants specifically for domestic manufacturers to acquire equipment and improve facilities.
The opposite
- Scored -4
Would business owners be better off under this?
Business owners face new annual registration fees, strict personal information requirements, and significant potential penalties.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Guaranteed Hourly Pay: Section 2 (Section 8(a) and Section 8(b) of the Fair Labor Standards Act) bans piece-rate pay and requires employers to pay garment workers at least the standard hourly minimum wage. This gives workers more stable and predictable paychecks.
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Brand Accountability: Section 2 (Section 8(c)) makes brand guarantors jointly and severally liable with employers for labor violations. This ensures that major brands share responsibility if workers are mistreated or underpaid by contractors.
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Support for Domestic Manufacturing and Workers: Section 5 establishes a national support program to award grants up to $5,000,000 to eligible entities. These funds can be used for employee training, workplace safety improvements, and educating workers about their legal rights.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Strict Registration and Reporting Requirements: Section 3 requires garment manufacturers and contractors to submit extensive personal and business information, including the residential addresses, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers of owners, partners, and employees. This heavy paperwork burden could create challenges for small businesses.
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Costly Penalties for Noncompliance: Section 3 (Section 3(g)) allows the Secretary of Labor to impose civil money penalties of up to $50,000,000 for violating registration requirements. While aimed at bad actors, such massive penalties could potentially force struggling businesses to close.
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 households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill increases wage stability and protections for garment industry workers by mandating hourly wages instead of piece rates. Would union members be better off under this? — The bill provides priority in grant awards to entities with collective bargaining agreements and increases wage enforcement. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill provides priority in competitive grant awards to veteran-owned businesses. Would women be better off under this? — The bill provides priority in competitive grant awards to women-owned businesses. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides preferential grant access to minority-owned businesses which may benefit many Hispanic entrepreneurs. Would business owners be better off under this? — Business owners face new annual registration fees, strict personal information requirements, and significant potential penalties.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The act provides competitive grants specifically for domestic manufacturers to acquire equipment and improve facilities. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill provides $100,000,000 in competitive grants to support and modernize the domestic garment manufacturing industry.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The bill gives priority in grant awards to businesses certified as women-owned. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill gives priority in grant awards to businesses certified as minority-owned.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires garment manufacturers and contractors to register with the Department of Labor.
- 9/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/14/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts