[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 18, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1285-S1288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4636. Mrs. MURRAY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by her to the bill S. 1383, to establish the Veterans Advisory 
Committee on Equal Access, and for other purposes; which was ordered to 
lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

         TITLE ___--WAGE THEFT PREVENTION AND WAGE RECOVERY ACT

     SEC. __1. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Wage Theft Prevention and 
     Wage Recovery Act''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

       The purposes of this title are to prevent wage theft and 
     facilitate the recovery of stolen wages by--
       (1) strengthening the penalties for engaging in wage theft;
       (2) giving workers the right to receive, in a timely 
     manner, full compensation for the work they perform, certain 
     disclosures, regular paystubs, and final payments;
       (3) providing workers with improved tools to recover their 
     stolen wages in court; and
       (4) making assistance available to enhance enforcement of 
     and compliance with Federal wage and hour laws through--
       (A) supporting initiatives that address and prevent 
     violations of such laws and assist workers in wage recovery;
       (B) supporting individual entities and developing community 
     partnerships that expand and improve cooperative efforts 
     between enforcement agencies and community-based 
     organizations in the prevention of wage and hour violations 
     and enforcement of wage and hour laws;
       (C) expanding outreach to workers in industries or 
     geographic areas identified by the Secretary of Labor as 
     highly noncompliant with Federal wage and hour laws;
       (D) improving detection of employers who are not complying 
     with such laws and aiding in the identification of violations 
     of such laws; and
       (E) facilitating the collection of evidence to assist 
     enforcement efforts.

     Subtitle A--Amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938

     SEC. _11. REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN DISCLOSURES, 
                   REGULAR PAYSTUBS, AND FINAL PAYMENTS.

       The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 is amended by 
     inserting after section 4 (29 U.S.C. 204) the following:

[[Page S1286]]

  


     ``SEC. 5. REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE CERTAIN DISCLOSURES, 
                   REGULAR PAYSTUBS, AND FINAL PAYMENTS.

       ``(a) Disclosures.--
       ``(1) Initial disclosures.--Not later than 15 days after 
     the date on which an employer hires an employee who in any 
     workweek is engaged in commerce or in the production of goods 
     for commerce, or is employed in an enterprise engaged in 
     commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, the 
     employer of such employee shall provide such employee with an 
     initial disclosure containing the information described in 
     paragraph (3). Such initial disclosure shall be--
       ``(A) provided as a written statement or, if the employee 
     so chooses, as a digital document provided through electronic 
     communication; and
       ``(B) made available in the employee's primary language.
       ``(2) Modification disclosures.--Not later than the earlier 
     of 5 days after the date on which any of the information 
     described in paragraph (3) changes with respect to an 
     employee described in paragraph (1) or the date of the next 
     paystub following the date on which such information changes, 
     the employer of such employee shall provide the employee with 
     a modification disclosure containing all the information 
     described in paragraph (3).
       ``(3) Information.--The information described in this 
     paragraph shall include--
       ``(A) the rate of pay and whether the employee is paid by 
     the hour, shift, day, week, or job, or by salary, piece rate, 
     commission, or other form of compensation;
       ``(B)(i) an indication of whether the employee is being 
     classified by the employer as an employee subject to the 
     minimum wage requirements of section 6 or as an employee that 
     is exempt from (or otherwise not subject to) such 
     requirements as provided under section 3(m)(2), 6, 13, or 14; 
     and
       ``(ii) in the case that such employee is not classified as 
     being an employee subject to such minimum wage requirements, 
     an identification of the section described in clause (i) 
     providing for such classification;
       ``(C)(i) an indication of whether the employee is being 
     classified by the employer as an employee subject to the 
     overtime compensation requirements of section 7 or as an 
     employee exempt from such requirements as provided under 
     section 7 or 13; and
       ``(ii) in the case that such employee is not classified as 
     being an employee subject to such overtime compensation 
     requirements, an identification of the section described in 
     clause (i) providing for such classification;
       ``(D) the name of the employer and any other name used by 
     the employer to conduct business; and
       ``(E) the physical address of and telephone number for the 
     employer's main office or principal place of business, and a 
     mailing address for such office or place of business if the 
     mailing address is different than the physical address.
       ``(b) Paystubs.--
       ``(1) In general.--Every employer shall provide each 
     employee of such employer who in any workweek is engaged in 
     commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, or is 
     employed in an enterprise engaged in commerce or in the 
     production of goods for commerce, a paystub that corresponds 
     to work performed by the employee during the applicable pay 
     period and contains the information required under paragraph 
     (3) in any form provided under paragraph (2).
       ``(2) Forms.--A paystub required under this subsection 
     shall be a written statement and may be provided in any of 
     the following forms:
       ``(A) As a separate document accompanying any payment to an 
     employee for work performed during the applicable pay period.
       ``(B) In the case of an employee who receives paychecks 
     from the employer, as a detachable statement accompanying 
     each paycheck.
       ``(C) As a digital document provided through electronic 
     communication, subject to the employee affirmatively 
     consenting to receive the paystubs in this form.
       ``(3) Contents.--Each paystub shall contain all of the 
     following information:
       ``(A) The name of the employee.
       ``(B) Except in the case of an employee who is exclusively 
     paid a salary and is exempt from the overtime requirements of 
     section 7, the total number of hours worked by the employee, 
     including the number of hours worked per workweek, during the 
     applicable pay period.
       ``(C) The total gross and net wages paid, and, except in 
     the case of an employee who is exclusively paid a salary and 
     is exempt from the overtime requirements of section 7, the 
     rate of pay for each hour worked during the applicable pay 
     period.
       ``(D) In the case of an employee who is paid any salary, 
     the amount of any salary paid during the applicable pay 
     period.
       ``(E) In the case of an employee employed at piece rates, 
     the number of piece rate units earned, the applicable piece 
     rates, and the total amount paid to the employee per workweek 
     for the applicable pay period in accordance with such piece 
     rates.
       ``(F) The rate of pay per workweek of the employee during 
     the applicable pay period and an explanation of the basis for 
     such rate.
       ``(G) The number of overtime hours per workweek worked by 
     the employee during the applicable pay period and the 
     compensation required under section 7 that is provided to the 
     employee for such hours.
       ``(H) Any additional compensation provided to the employee 
     during the applicable pay period, with an explanation of each 
     type of compensation, including any allowances or 
     reimbursements such as amounts related to meals, clothing, 
     lodging, or any other item, and any cost to the employee 
     associated with such allowance or reimbursements.
       ``(I) Itemized deductions from the gross income of the 
     employee during the applicable pay period, and an explanation 
     for each deduction.
       ``(J) The date that is the beginning of the applicable pay 
     period and the date that is the end of such applicable pay 
     period.
       ``(K) The name of the employer and any other name used by 
     the employer to conduct business.
       ``(L) The name and phone number of a representative of the 
     employer for contact purposes.
       ``(M) Any additional information that the Secretary 
     reasonably requires to be included through notice and comment 
     rulemaking.
       ``(c) Final Payments.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 14 days after an 
     individual described in paragraph (4) terminates employment 
     with an employer (by action of the employer or the 
     individual), or on the date on which such employer pays other 
     employees for the pay period during which the individual so 
     terminates such employment, whichever date is earlier, the 
     employer shall provide the individual with a final payment, 
     which includes all compensation due to such individual for 
     all time worked and benefits incurred (including retirement, 
     health, leave, fringe, and other benefits) by the individual 
     as an employee for the employer.
       ``(2) Continuing wages.--An employer who violates the 
     requirement under paragraph (1) shall, for each day, not to 
     exceed 30 days, of such violation provide the individual 
     described in paragraph (4) with compensation at a rate that 
     is equal to the regular rate of compensation, as determined 
     under this Act, to which such individual was entitled when 
     such individual was an employee of such employer.
       ``(3) Limitation.--Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), 
     any individual described in paragraph (4) who intentionally 
     avoids receiving a final payment described in paragraph (1), 
     or who refuses to receive the final payment when fully 
     tendered, resulting in the employer violating the requirement 
     under such paragraph, shall not be entitled to the 
     compensation provided under paragraph (2) for the time during 
     which the individual so avoids final payment or refuses to 
     receive the final payment.
       ``(4) Individual.--An individual described in this 
     paragraph is an individual who was employed by the employer, 
     and through such employment, in any workweek, was engaged in 
     commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, or was 
     employed in an enterprise engaged in commerce or in the 
     production of goods for commerce.''.

     SEC. _12. RIGHT TO FULL COMPENSATION.

       (a) In General.--The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 is 
     amended by inserting after section 7 (29 U.S.C. 207) the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 8. RIGHT TO FULL COMPENSATION.

       ``(a) In General.--In the case of an employment contract or 
     other employment agreement, including a collective bargaining 
     agreement, that specifies that an employer shall compensate 
     an employee (who is described in subsection (b)) at a rate 
     that is higher than the rate otherwise required under this 
     Act, the employer shall compensate such employee at the rate 
     specified in such contract or other employment agreement.
       ``(b) Employee Engaged in Commerce.--The requirement under 
     subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any employee who 
     in any workweek is engaged in commerce or in the production 
     of goods for commerce, or is employed in an enterprise 
     engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for 
     commerce.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--The Fair Labor Standards Act of 
     1938 is amended by repealing section 10 (29 U.S.C. 210).

     SEC. _13. CIVIL AND CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT.

       (a) Prohibited Acts.--Section 15(a) of the Fair Labor 
     Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 215(a)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``section 6 or section 
     7'' and inserting ``section 6, 7, or 8''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``section 6 or section 
     7'' and inserting ``section 5, 6, 7, or 8''.
       (b) Damages.--The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 
     U.S.C. 201 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) in section 4(f) (29 U.S.C. 204(f)), in the third 
     sentence, by striking ``for unpaid minimum wages, or unpaid 
     overtime compensation, and liquidated damages'' and inserting 
     ``for unpaid wages, or unpaid overtime compensation, as well 
     as interest and liquidated damages,'';
       (2) in section 6(d)(3) (29 U.S.C. 206(d)(3)), by striking 
     ``minimum'';
       (3) in section 16 (29 U.S.C. 216)--
       (A) in subsection (b)--
       (i) by striking ``section 6 or section 7'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``section 6, 7, or 8'';
       (ii) by striking ``minimum'' each place it appears;
       (iii) in the first sentence, by striking ``and in an 
     additional equal amount as liquidated damages'' and inserting 
     ``the amount of any interest on such unpaid wages or unpaid 
     overtime compensation accrued at the prevailing rate, and an 
     additional amount as

[[Page S1287]]

     liquidated damages that is equal to (subject to the second 
     sentence of this subsection) 2 times such amount of unpaid 
     wages or unpaid overtime compensation'';
       (iv) in the second sentence, by striking ``wages lost and 
     an additional equal amount as liquidated damages'' and 
     inserting ``wages lost, including any unpaid wages or any 
     unpaid overtime compensation, the amount of any interest on 
     such wages lost accrued at the prevailing rate, and an 
     additional amount as liquidated damages that is equal to 3 
     times the amount of such wages lost'';
       (v) by striking the fifth sentence; and
       (vi) by adding at the end the following: ``Notwithstanding 
     chapter 1 of title 9, United States Code (commonly known as 
     the `Federal Arbitration Act'), or any other law, the right 
     to bring an action, including a joint, class, or collective 
     claim, in court under this section cannot be waived by an 
     employee as a condition of employment or in a predispute 
     arbitration agreement.''; and
       (B) in subsection (c)--
       (i) by striking ``minimum'' each place the term appears;
       (ii) in the first sentence--

       (I) by striking ``section 6 or 7'' and inserting ``section 
     6, 7, or 8''; and
       (II) by striking ``and an additional equal amount as 
     liquidated damages'' and inserting ``, any interest on such 
     unpaid wages or unpaid overtime compensation accrued at the 
     prevailing rate, and an additional amount as liquidated 
     damages that is equal to (subject to the third sentence of 
     this subsection) 2 times such amount of unpaid wages or 
     unpaid overtime compensation'';

       (iii) in the second sentence, by striking ``and an equal 
     amount as liquidated damages.'' and inserting ``, any 
     interest on such unpaid wages or unpaid overtime compensation 
     accrued at the prevailing rate, and an additional amount as 
     liquidated damages that is equal to (subject to the third 
     sentence of this subsection) 2 times such amount of unpaid 
     wages or unpaid overtime compensation. In the event that the 
     employer violates section 15(a)(3), the Secretary may bring 
     an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover 
     the amount of any wages lost, including any unpaid wages or 
     any unpaid overtime compensation, any interest on such wages 
     lost accrued at the prevailing rate, an additional amount as 
     liquidated damages that is equal to 3 times the amount of 
     such wages lost, and any such legal or equitable relief as 
     may be appropriate.''; and
       (iv) in the fourth sentence, by striking ``sections 6 and 
     7'' and inserting ``section 6, 7, or 8''; and
       (4) in section 17 (29 U.S.C. 217), by striking ``minimum''.
       (c) Civil Fines.--Section 16(e) of the Fair Labor Standards 
     Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 216(e)) is amended--
       (1) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
       ``(2)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), any person who 
     violates section 6, 7, or 8, relating to wages, shall be 
     subject to a civil fine that is not to exceed $22,030 per 
     each employee affected for each initial violation of such 
     section.
       ``(B) Any person who repeatedly or willfully violates 
     section 6, 7, or 8, relating to wages, shall be subject to a 
     civil fine that is not to exceed $110,150 per each employee 
     affected for each such violation.
       ``(C) Any person who violates section 3(m)(2)(B) shall be 
     subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $12,340 for each 
     such violation, as the Secretary determines appropriate, in 
     addition to being liable to the employee or employees 
     affected for all tips unlawfully kept, any interest on such 
     wages lost accrued at the prevailing rate, and an additional 
     amount as liquidated damages that is equal to 2 times the 
     amount of such wages lost, as described in subsection (b).'';
       (2) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) as 
     paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively; and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
       ``(3) Any person who violates subsection (a) or (b) of 
     section 5 shall--
       ``(A) for the initial violation of such subsection, be 
     subject to a civil fine that is not to exceed $50 per each 
     employee affected; and
       ``(B) for each repeated or willful violation of such 
     subsection, be subject to a civil fine that is not to exceed 
     $100 per each employee affected.
       ``(4) Any person who violates section 11(c) shall--
       ``(A) for the initial violation, be subject to a civil fine 
     that is not to exceed $1,000 per each employee affected; and
       ``(B) for each repeated or willful violation, be subject to 
     a civil fine that is not to exceed $5,000 per each employee 
     affected.''.
       (d) Criminal Penalties.--Section 16(a) of the Fair Labor 
     Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 216(a)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Any person'' and inserting ``(1) Any 
     person'';
       (2) in the first sentence, by striking ``$10,000'' and 
     inserting ``$10,000 per each employee affected'';
       (3) in the second sentence, by striking ``No person'' and 
     inserting ``Subject to paragraph (2), no person''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2)(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 
     the Secretary shall refer any case involving a covered 
     offender described in subparagraph (B) to the Department of 
     Justice for prosecution.
       ``(B) A covered offender described in this subparagraph is 
     a person who willfully violates each of the following:
       ``(i) Section 11(c) by falsifying any records described in 
     such section.
       ``(ii) Section 6, 7, or 8, relating to wages.
       ``(iii) Section 15(a)(3).''.

     SEC. _14. RECORDKEEPING.

       (a) In General.--Section 11(c) of the Fair Labor Standards 
     Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 211(c)) is amended by adding at the 
     end the following: ``In the event that an employee requests 
     an inspection of the records described in this subsection 
     that pertain to such employee from the employer, orally or in 
     writing, the employer shall provide the employee with a copy 
     of the records for a period of up to 5 years prior to such 
     request being made. Not later than 21 days after an employee 
     requests such an inspection, the employer shall comply with 
     the request.
       (b) Rebuttable Presumption.--Section 15 of the Fair Labor 
     Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 215) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:
       ``(c) In the event that an employer violates section 11(c) 
     and any regulations issued pursuant to such section, 
     resulting in a lack of a complete record of an employee's 
     hours worked or wages owed, the employee's production of 
     credible evidence and testimony regarding the amount or 
     extent of the work for which the employee was not compensated 
     in compliance with the requirements under this Act shall be 
     sufficient to create a rebuttable presumption that the 
     employee's records are accurate. Such presumption shall be 
     rebutted only if the employer produces evidence of the 
     precise amount or extent of work performed or evidence to 
     show that the inference drawn from the employee's evidence is 
     not reasonable.''.

       Subtitle B--Amendments to the Portal-to-Portal Act of 1947

     SEC. _21. INCREASING AND TOLLING STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

       Section 6 of the Portal-to-Portal Act of 1947 (29 U.S.C. 
     255) is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding subsection (a), by striking 
     ``minimum'';
       (2) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking ``may be commenced within two years'' and 
     inserting ``may be commenced within 4 years'';
       (B) by striking ``unless commenced within two years'' and 
     inserting ``unless commenced within 4 years''; and
       (C) by striking ``may be commenced within three years'' and 
     inserting ``may be commenced within 5 years'';
       (3) in subsection (d), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(e) with respect to the running of any statutory period 
     of limitation described in this section, the running of such 
     statutory period shall be deemed suspended during the period 
     beginning on the date on which the Secretary of Labor 
     notifies an employer of an initiation of an investigation or 
     enforcement action and ending on the date on which the 
     Secretary notifies the employer that the matter has been 
     officially resolved by the Secretary.''.

   Subtitle C--Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Grant Program

     SEC. _31. DEFINITIONS.

       In this subtitle:
       (1) Administrator.--The term the ``Administrator'' means 
     the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division of the 
     Department of Labor.
       (2) Community partner.--The term ``community partner'' 
     means any stakeholder with a commitment to enforcing wage and 
     hour laws and preventing abuses of such laws, including any--
       (A) State department of labor;
       (B) attorney general of a State, or other similar 
     authorized official of a political subdivision thereof;
       (C) law enforcement agency;
       (D) consulate;
       (E) employee or advocate of employees, including a labor 
     organization, community- and faith-based organization, 
     business association, or nonprofit legal aid organization;
       (F) academic institution that plans, coordinates, and 
     implements programs and activities to prevent wage and hour 
     violations and recover unpaid wages, damages, and penalties; 
     or
       (G) any municipal agency responsible for the enforcement of 
     local wage and hour laws.
       (3) Community partnership.--The term ``community 
     partnership'' means a partnership between--
       (A) a working group consisting of community partners; and
       (B) the Department of Labor.
       (4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means an 
     entity that is any of the following:
       (A) A nonprofit organization, including such an 
     organization that is a community-based organization, faith-
     based organization, or labor organization, that provides 
     services and support to employees, including assisting such 
     employees in recovering unpaid wages.
       (B) An employer.
       (C) A business association.
       (D) An institution of higher education, as defined by 
     section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1001).
       (E) A partnership between any of the entities described in 
     subparagraphs (A) through (D).

[[Page S1288]]

       (5) Employ; employee; employer.--The terms ``employ'', 
     ``employee'', and ``employer'' have the meanings given such 
     terms in section 3 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 
     (29 U.S.C. 203).
       (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Labor.
       (7) Strategic enforcement.--The term ``strategic 
     enforcement'' means the process by which the Secretary--
       (A) targets highly noncompliant industries, as identified 
     by the Secretary, using industry-specific structures to 
     influence, and ultimately reform, networks of interconnected 
     employers;
       (B) analyzes regulatory regimes under which specific 
     industries operate; and
       (C) modifies the enforcement approach of such regulatory 
     regimes in order to ensure the greatest impact.
       (8) Wage and hour law.--The term ``wage and hour law'' 
     means any Federal law enforced by the Wage and Hour Division 
     of the Department of Labor, including any provision of this 
     title enforced by such division.
       (9) Wage and hour violation.--The term ``wage and hour 
     violation'' refers to any violation of a Federal law enforced 
     by the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor, 
     including any provision of this title enforced by such 
     division.

     SEC. _32. WAGE THEFT PREVENTION AND WAGE RECOVERY GRANT 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the 
     Administrator, shall provide grants to eligible entities to 
     assist such entities in enhancing the enforcement of wage and 
     hour laws, in accordance with this section and consistent 
     with the purposes of this title.
       (b) Grants.--A grant provided under this section shall be 
     designed to--
       (1) support an eligible entity in establishing and 
     supporting the activities described in subsection (c)(1); and
       (2) develop community partnerships to expand and improve 
     cooperative efforts between enforcement agencies and members 
     of the community to--
       (A) prevent and reduce wage and hour violations; and
       (B) assist employees in recovering back pay for any such 
     violations.
       (c) Use of Funds.--
       (1) Permissible activities.--The grants described in this 
     section shall assist eligible entities in establishing and 
     supporting activities that include--
       (A) disseminating information and conducting outreach and 
     training to educate employees about their rights under wage 
     and hour laws;
       (B) conducting educational training for employers about 
     their obligations under wage and hour laws;
       (C) conducting orientations and trainings jointly with 
     officials of the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of 
     Labor;
       (D) providing assistance to employees in filing claims of 
     wage and hour violations;
       (E) assisting enforcement agencies in conducting 
     investigations, including in the collection of evidence and 
     recovering back pay;
       (F) monitoring compliance with wage and hour laws;
       (G) performing joint visitations to worksites that violate 
     wage and hour laws with officials from the Wage and Hour 
     Division of the Department of Labor;
       (H) establishing networks for education, communication, and 
     participation in the workplace and community;
       (I) evaluating the effectiveness of programs designed to 
     prevent wage and hour violations and enforce wage and hour 
     laws;
       (J) recruiting and hiring of staff and volunteers;
       (K) production and dissemination of outreach and training 
     materials; and
       (L) any other activities as the Secretary may reasonably 
     prescribe through notice and comment rulemaking.
       (2) Prohibited activities.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), 
     an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section may 
     not use the grant funds for any purpose reasonably prohibited 
     by the Secretary through notice and comment rulemaking.
       (d) Term of Grants.--Each grant made under this section 
     shall be available for expenditure for a period that is not 
     to exceed 3 years.
       (e) Applications.--
       (1) In general.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under 
     this section shall submit an application for such grant to 
     the Secretary in accordance with this subsection.
       (2) Partnerships.--In the case of an eligible entity that 
     is a partnership described in section _31(4)(E), the eligible 
     entity may submit a joint application that designates a 
     single entity as the lead entity for purposes of receiving 
     and disbursing funds.
       (3) Contents.--An application under this subsection shall 
     include--
       (A) a description of a plan for the program that the 
     eligible entity proposes to carry out with a grant under this 
     section, including a long-term strategy and detailed 
     implementation plan that reflects expected participation of, 
     and partnership with, community partners;
       (B) information on the prevalence of wage and hour 
     violations in each community or State of the eligible entity;
       (C) information on any industry or geographic area targeted 
     by the plan for such program;
       (D) information on the type of outreach and relationship 
     building that will be conducted under such program;
       (E) information on the training and education that will be 
     provided to employees and employers under such program; and
       (F) the method by which the eligible entity will measure 
     results of such program.
       (f) Selection.--
       (1) Competitive basis.--In accordance with this subsection, 
     the Secretary shall, on a competitive basis, select grant 
     recipients from among eligible entities that have submitted 
     an application under subsection (e).
       (2) Priority.--In selecting grant recipients under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible 
     entities that--
       (A) serve employees in any industry or geographic area that 
     is most highly at risk for noncompliance with wage and hour 
     violations, as identified by the Secretary; and
       (B) demonstrate past and ongoing work to prevent wage and 
     hour violations or to recover unpaid wages.
       (3) Other considerations.--In selecting grant recipients 
     under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall also consider--
       (A) the prevalence of ongoing community support for each 
     eligible entity, including financial and other contributions; 
     and
       (B) the eligible entity's past and ongoing partnerships 
     with other organizations.
       (g) Memoranda of Understanding.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after receiving a 
     grant under this section, the grant recipient shall negotiate 
     and finalize with the Secretary a memorandum of understanding 
     that sets forth specific goals, objectives, strategies, and 
     activities that will be carried out under the grant by such 
     recipient through a community partnership.
       (2) Signatures.--A representative of the grant recipient 
     (or, in the case of a grant recipient that is an eligible 
     entity described in section _31(4)(E), a representative of 
     each entity that composes the grant recipient) and the 
     Secretary shall sign the memorandum of understanding under 
     this subsection.
       (3) Revisions.--The memorandum of understanding under this 
     subsection shall be reviewed and revised by the grant 
     recipient and the Secretary each year of the duration of the 
     grant.
       (h) Performance Evaluations.--
       (1) In general.--Each grant recipient under this section 
     shall develop procedures for reporting, monitoring, 
     measuring, and evaluating the activities of each program or 
     project funded under this section.
       (2) Guidelines.--The procedures required under paragraph 
     (1) shall be in accordance with guidelines established by the 
     Secretary.
       (i) Revocation or Suspension of Funding.--If the Secretary 
     determines that a recipient of a grant under this section is 
     not in compliance with the terms and requirements of the 
     memorandum of understanding under subsection (g), the 
     Secretary may revoke or suspend (in whole or in part) the 
     funding of the grant.
       (j) Use of Components.--In addition to the Wage and Hour 
     Division, the Secretary (acting through the Administrator) 
     may use any division or agency of the Department of Labor in 
     carrying out this subtitle.

     SEC. _33. GAO STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall conduct a study to identify successful programs 
     carried out by grants under section _32, and the elements, 
     policies, or procedures of such programs that can be 
     replicated by other programs carried out by grants under such 
     section.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall submit a report to the Secretary and Congress 
     containing the results of the study conducted under 
     subsection (a).
       (c) Use of Information.--The Secretary shall use 
     information contained in the report submitted under 
     subsection (b)--
       (1) to improve the quality of community partnership 
     programs assisted or carried out under this subtitle that are 
     in existence as of the publication of the report; and
       (2) to develop models for new community partnership 
     programs to be assisted or carried out under this subtitle.

     SEC. _34. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
     necessary for fiscal year 2027 and for each subsequent fiscal 
     year through fiscal year 2030, to remain available until 
     expended, to carry out the grant program under section _32.

               Subtitle D--Regulations and Effective Date

     SEC. _41. REGULATIONS.

       Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall promulgate such 
     regulations as are necessary to carry out this title, and the 
     amendments made by this title.

     SEC. _42. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       The amendments made by subtitles A and B shall take effect 
     on the date that is the earlier of--
       (1) the date that is 6 months after the date on which the 
     final regulations are promulgated by the Secretary of Labor 
     under section _41; and
       (2) the date that is 18 months after the date of enactment 
     of this Act.
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