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HR 182 105th Congress House

Federal Living Wage Responsibility Act

Official title: To provide for a livable wage for employees under Federal contracts and subcontracts.

Introduced: February 4, 1997 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics ApprenticeshipCommerceDamagesDebarment of government contractors
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Dismissal of employeesExecutive compensationGovernment contractorsLabor and EmploymentLawLayoffsMinimum wagesNonprofit organizationsPovertySmall businessSocial WelfareSubcontractorsTax-exempt organizationsTaxationWage restitutionWages
This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 31, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
Jan 16, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology.
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to House Government Reform
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, 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.
Jan 7, 1997
Referred to House Education and the Workforce
Jan 7, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Latest action January 31, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Federal Living Wage Responsibility Act - Requires any employer under a Federal contract or subcontract exceeding $10,000 to pay each employee working on or hired in conjunction with such contract or subcontract the greater of: (1) $7.50 an hour; or (2) an hourly wage necessary for such employee to earn, while working 40 hours a week on a full-time basis, the amount of the Federal poverty level for a family of four.

Exempts employers that are: (1) small business concerns; or (2) nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations, if the ratio of the total compensation of the chief executive officer to that of the full-time equivalent of their lowest-paid employee is not greater than 25 to 1.

Makes ineligible for such required living wage level any employee participating in: (1) an apprenticeship program; or (2) any other training program, which is not longer than six months and is offered to an employee while employed in productive work, that provides training, technical and other related skills, and personal skills essential to full and adequate job performance. Prohibits employers from avoiding paying the required living wage by laying off or otherwise terminating an employee with the intention of replacing that employee with one not eligible for such wage because of participation in an apprenticeship or training program.

Requires all Federal contracts and subcontracts to require such living wage payment. Requires Federal contract and subcontract suspension and a five-year ineligibility period for employers who violate such requirement. Makes such employers liable for unpaid wages and an equal amount of liquidated damages. Directs the Secretary of Labor to pay the employees who were not paid such living wage the amount recovered from their employers.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 182: Federal Living Wage Responsibility Act. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-182/
MLA
"H.R. 182: Federal Living Wage Responsibility Act." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-182/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 182, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-182/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 182: Federal Living Wage Responsibility Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-182/)
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