IIB 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4157 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 25, 2012 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions AN ACT To prohibit the Secretary of Labor from reissuing or issuing a rule substantially similar to a certain proposed rule under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 relating to child labor.

1.

Short title and findings

(a)

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Preserving America’s Family Farms Act. (b)

Findings

Congress finds that— (1)family farms have a long history and tradition of providing youth with valuable work experience; (2)Department of Labor regulations should not adversely impact the longstanding tradition of youth working on farms where they can gain valuable skills and lessons on hard work, character, and leadership; (3)the Department of Labor’s proposed regulations would have curtailed opportunities for youth to gain experiential learning and hands-on skills for enrollment in vocational agricultural training; (4)the proposed regulations would have obstructed the opportunity for youth to find rewarding employment and earn money for a college education or other meaningful purposes; (5)the proposed regulations would have limited opportunities for young farmers wishing to pursue a career in agriculture at a time when the average age of farmers continues to rise; and (6)working on a farm has become a way of life for thousands of youth across the rural United States.

2.

Rule relating to child labor

The Secretary of Labor shall not reissue in substantially the same form, or issue a new rule that is substantially the same as, the proposed rule entitled Child Labor Regulations, Orders and Statements of Interpretation; Child Labor Violations—Civil Money Penalties (published at 76 Fed. Reg. 54836 (September 2, 2011)).

Passed the House of Representatives July 24, 2012. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.