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HR 738 117th Congress House Taxation Appropriations Cardiovascular and respiratory health Disability assistance Disaster relief and insurance Emergency medical services and trauma care Employment taxes Government trust funds Health personnel Income tax credits Infectious and parasitic diseases Labor standards Social security and elderly assistance Wages and earnings

Essential Pay for Essential Workers Act

Introduced: February 5, 2021 Introduced by: Watson Coleman, Bonnie Democratic · New Jersey See on congress.gov
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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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 2, 2021
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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.
Feb 2, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Feb 2, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Essential Pay for Essential Workers Act

This bill requires employers to pay essential health care employees a premium amount in addition to their regular rate of pay during an emergency period. It also allows employers a payroll tax credit for the payment of such enhanced wages to essential employees.

What's happening now February 2, 2021

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 15
All 15 Democratic 12
D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · Apr 14, 2021
 D
Torres, Ritchie
New York · Apr 1, 2021
HASTINGS, ALCEE
· Mar 26, 2021
 D
Williams, Nikema
Georgia · Feb 25, 2021
 D
Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria
New York · Feb 22, 2021
 D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
Georgia · Feb 11, 2021
Vela, Filemon
· Feb 5, 2021
 D
Beatty, Joyce
Ohio · Feb 3, 2021
 D
Tlaib, Rashida
Michigan · Feb 3, 2021
 D
Barragán, Nanette Diaz
California · Feb 2, 2021
 D
Carson, André
Indiana · Feb 2, 2021
 D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Feb 2, 2021
 D
Hayes, Jahana
Connecticut · Feb 2, 2021
Lawson, Al
· Feb 2, 2021
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Feb 2, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 738: Essential Pay for Essential Workers Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-738/
MLA
"H.R. 738: Essential Pay for Essential Workers Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-738/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 738, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-738/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 738: Essential Pay for Essential Workers Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-738/)
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