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H.R. 1523 117th Congress House

Modern Worker Empowerment Act

Official title: To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to harmonize the definition of employee with the common law.

Introduced: March 2, 2021 Introduced by: Elise M. Stefanik Republican · New York See on congress.gov
Labor and Employment Labor standards
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 2, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Mar 2, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 2, 2021

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Modern Worker Empowerment Act

This bill requires the use of common law rules for defining an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Generally, an individual is an employee under common law rules when an employer controls what work will be done and how it will be done, among other factors.

 Related & companion bills 3
  • S 526 Identical bill Modern Worker Empowerment Act
  • HR 7194 Employee Rights Act
  • S 3889 Employee Rights Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 8
All 8 Republican 4
Lesko, Debbie
· Apr 8, 2021
 R
Cole, Tom
Oklahoma · Mar 2, 2021
Gaetz, Matt
· Mar 2, 2021
 R
Hern, Kevin
Oklahoma · Mar 2, 2021
 R
Miller, Carol D.
West Virginia · Mar 2, 2021
 R
Norman, Ralph
South Carolina · Mar 2, 2021
Rodgers, Cathy
· Mar 2, 2021
Steel, Michelle
· Mar 2, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1523: Modern Worker Empowerment Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1523/
MLA
"H.R. 1523: Modern Worker Empowerment Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1523/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1523, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1523/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1523: Modern Worker Empowerment Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1523/)
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