[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1005 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1005
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that creators and
digital workers, as a distinct and growing class of small businesses
and independent economic contributors, deserve fair treatment,
transparency, and economic opportunity in the modern platform-based
economy.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 15, 2026
Mr. Khanna submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
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RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that creators and
digital workers, as a distinct and growing class of small businesses
and independent economic contributors, deserve fair treatment,
transparency, and economic opportunity in the modern platform-based
economy.
Whereas over ten million Americans earn income as creators, freelancers, and
digital workers through online platforms that distribute content,
facilitate gig work, and connect workers to audiences and customers,
often operating as independent businesses;
Whereas creators generate significant economic value for platforms through
original content, innovation, and community-building, yet often face
limited transparency and predictability regarding compensation, data
access, and platform policies;
Whereas platform-based work may involve income volatility, evolving rules, and
changes to algorithmic systems or platform policies that can materially
affect creators' reach and earnings;
Whereas many creators and digital workers are classified as independent
contractors, which can limit access to employer-sponsored health care,
retirement plans, paid leave, and other labor protections provided under
existing law;
Whereas the lack of portable benefits can create economic uncertainty for
independent workers and may discourage mobility, entrepreneurship, and
long-term income stability across platforms;
Whereas algorithmic systems play a significant role in content distribution and
monetization, and limited transparency can make it difficult for
creators to understand how changes may affect visibility or earnings;
Whereas limited ability to maintain direct, opt-in communication with audiences
can restrict creators' capacity to move between platforms and build
sustainable, independent businesses, consistent with privacy
protections;
Whereas platforms rely heavily on creator-generated content to drive advertising
and subscription revenue, while revenue-sharing arrangements with
creators are often unclear or inconsistent;
Whereas misclassification of workers under existing labor laws can deprive
individuals of wages, benefits, and legal protections to which they are
entitled, while also creating uncertainty for platforms and legitimate
independent businesses; and
Whereas creators and digital workers frequently operate as small businesses, yet
may face barriers accessing technical assistance, financing, and support
programs available to other small businesses and entrepreneurs; Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports--
(1) access to affordable, reliable, and portable health
care options for creators and digital workers, so that coverage
is not dependent on a single employer or platform;
(2) ensuring that digital workers can carry benefits across
gigs and platforms, including portable benefit systems and
retirement plan options designed for independent workers;
(3) clear, transparent, and predictable revenue-sharing
terms between platforms and creators for the content and labor
that generate value for those platforms;
(4) ability for creators to maintain decentralized, opt-in,
direct relationships with audiences who choose to engage with
their work, enabling creators to move between platforms without
losing their audiences;
(5) offering robust small business resources to creators
and digital workers, supporting transparency around platform
algorithms that affect compensation and visibility, and
protecting workers against misclassification under existing
Federal labor law;
(6) access to timely, responsive customer support and clear
appeal processes for creators and digital workers when platform
actions materially affect their accounts, content, or income;
and
(7) transparency, consent, and accountability standards
related to the use of artificial intelligence and synthetic
media that materially affect creators' identities, reputations,
or livelihoods.
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