Skip to main content
HR 3246 105th Congress House

Fairness for Small Business and Employees Act of 1998

Official title: To assist small businesses and labor organizations in defending themselves against government bureaucracy; to ensure that employees entitled to reinstatement g… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To assist small businesses and labor organizations in defending themselves against government bureaucracy; to ensure that employees entitled to reinstatement get their jobs back quickly; to protect the right of employers to have a hearing to present their case in certain representation cases; and, to prevent the use of the National Labor Relations Act for the purpose of disrupting or inflicting economic harm on employers.

Introduced: March 18, 1998 See on congress.gov
Labor and Employment Administrative procedureAdministrative remediesCollective bargaining agreementsCollective bargaining unit
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
CommerceCongressCongressional reporting requirementsDismissal of employeesEmployee rightsEmployee selectionGovernment Operations and PoliticsIndustrial relationsInjunctionsLabor union electionsLabor union membershipLabor unionsLawLegal feesNational Labor Relations BoardSmall businessTemporary employmentUnfair labor practicesWage restitution
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 25 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 30, 1998
Received in the Senate.
Mar 26, 1998
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Mar 26, 1998
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 202 - 200 (Roll No. 78).
Mar 26, 1998
The House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mar 26, 1998
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Mar 26, 1998
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3246.
Mar 26, 1998
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 393, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Goodling amendment.
Mar 26, 1998
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate.
Mar 26, 1998
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3246. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. No amendment shall be in order except the amendment printed in the report accompanying this resolution, to be offered in the order and manner specified in the report, and not subject to further amendment or a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.
Mar 26, 1998
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 393. (consideration: CR H1609-1623)
Mar 26, 1998
The Speaker designated the Honorable Bill McCollum to act as Chairman of the Committee.
Mar 26, 1998
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 393 and Rule XXIII.
Mar 26, 1998
Rule H. Res. 393 passed House.
Mar 25, 1998
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 393 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3246. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. No amendment to shall be in order except the amendment printed in the report accompanying this resolution, to be offered in the order and manner specified in the report, and not subject to further amendment or a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.
Mar 18, 1998
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 259.
Mar 18, 1998
Reported by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 105-453.
Mar 17, 1998
Mr. Dreier notified the House that members wishing to offer amendments to the bill should submit 55 copies of proposed amendments to the Committee on Rules (Rm. 312, Capitol) by 2 p.m. on Monday, March 23, 1998.
Mar 11, 1998
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 23 - 18.
Mar 11, 1998
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Feb 26, 1998
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 7 - 3.
Feb 26, 1998
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Feb 24, 1998
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Feb 24, 1998
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
Feb 24, 1998
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E195-196)
Feb 24, 1998
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Mar 26, 1998 House · vote #78 On Passage Passed 202–200 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 538 – An amendment, printed as amendment No. 1 in House Rpt. 105-463, to clarify that a "bona fide" job applicant s… Agreed to Mar 26, 1998
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action March 30, 1998

Received in the Senate.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Truth in Employment

Title II: Fair Hearing

Title III: Justice on Time

Title IV: Attorneys Fees

Fairness for Small Business and Employees Act of 1998 - Title I: Truth in Employment - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to provide that nothing in specified prohibitions against unfair labor practices by employers shall be construed as requiring an employer to employ any person who is not a bona fide employee applicant, in that such person seeks or has sought employment with the employer with the primary purpose of furthering another employment or agency status.

Title II: Fair Hearing - Directs the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to provide for a hearing upon due notice to determine the appropriateness of the bargaining unit, if a petition for an election requests to certify a unit which includes the employees employed at one or more facilities of a multi-facility employer, and in the absence of an agreement by the parties regarding the appropriateness of the bargaining unit at issue. Requires the NLRB, in making such determination, to consider functional integration, centralized control, common skills, functions and working conditions, permanent and temporary employee interchange, geographical separation, local autonomy, the number of employees, bargaining history, and other factors it considers appropriate.

Title III: Justice on Time - Requires the NLRB to state its findings of fact and to issue and serve corrective orders, including reinstatement of an employee with or without backpay, or issue an order dismissing the complaint, within 365 days after the filing of a charge of unfair labor practice involving an unlawful discharge, except in cases of extreme complexity. Directs the NLRB to report annually to specified congressional committees on any cases pending for more than one year, including an explanation of the factors contributing to such a delay, and recommendations for prompt resolution of such cases.

Title IV: Attorneys Fees - Provides for awards of attorneys' fees and costs in administrative or court proceedings involving the NLRB, without regard to whether the NLRB's position was substantially justified or special circumstances make an award unjust, if the prevailing parties are employers or labor organizations with no more than 100 employees and a net worth of no more than $1.4 million at the time the adversary adjudication was initiated.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 3 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3246: Fairness for Small Business and Employees Act of 1998. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-3246/
MLA
"H.R. 3246: Fairness for Small Business and Employees Act of 1998." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-3246/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3246, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-3246/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3246: Fairness for Small Business and Employees Act of 1998](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-3246/)
Report a problem