{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-announces-bill-crack-down-wage-theft", "Magaziner Announces Bill to Crack Down on Wage Theft", "2024-09-19", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Vice-Chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus, held a press conference to announce the introduction of his bill, the Don\u2019t Stand for Taking Employed Americans\u2019 Livings (Don\u2019t STEAL) Act, which would make wage theft a felony nationwide.\n\nEvery day, workers across the country are cheated out of the pay they\u2019ve earned by employers who fail to pay the contracted wage, steal tips, deny overtime, or otherwise skim from employee pay. Wage theft costs American workers at least $50 billion per year. That is far more than the value of all robberies, burglaries, and motor vehicle thefts combined.\n\nCurrent federal laws on wage theft give bad actors a weak match token punishment for stealing their employees\u2019 wages, and don\u2019t adequately serve as a deterrent. The Don\u2019t STEAL Act updates the penalties for wage theft violations to be commensurate with other forms of criminal theft under federal law:\n\nUnder this legislation, employers who willfully fail to pay their employees the wages they are owed, fail to compensate their employees for overtime work, or steal tips will face a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the severity of the crime. Under current law, employers who commit wage theft at most face a misdemeanor.\n\nThese changes will bring the penalties for wage theft to parity with other common forms of theft under federal law. Under current law, an employer who commits wilful wage theft can be criminally fined no more than $10,000, but this bill would remove that cap and require bad actor employers to be fined in proportion to wages stolen.\n\n\u201cHere\u2019s a simple idea: If you put in an honest day\u2019s work, you deserve a fair and livable wage, yet so many workers are robbed of the pay they\u2019ve worked hard for by employers who illegally steal from their employees,\u201d said Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-02). \u201cThis is wrong and it needs to change. I\u2019m proud to introduce the Don\u2019t STEAL Act to help ensure American workers receive the pay they have earned and deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen people imagine theft, they typically picture robbers in masks breaking into homes, businesses and stealing vehicles,\u201d Congressman Mark Pocan said. \u201cBut more money is stolen from wages than all other thefts combined. If you work for an hour you should be paid for an hour \u2013 it\u2019s just that simple. I\u2019m honored to sponsor this important piece of legislation.\u201d\n\n\"Wage theft is a serious crime, and it's about time we treated it like other forms of criminal theft. As a young man, I fell victim to wage theft and understand just how burdensome it is on folks struggling to provide for their families,\" said Congressman Donald Norcross. \"I\u2019m proud to join Rep. Magaziner in introducing the Don\u2019t STEAL Act to deter businesses from committing this crime and protect American workers.\"\n\n\u201cRep. Magaziner's 'Don\u2019t STEAL' Act is a significant step forward in the fight against wage theft. Sadly, it is the lowest-paid and immigrant workers who are often the victims of this crime perpetrated by unscrupulous bosses. Willfully stealing a worker's wages should be treated like other kinds of theft around the country -- as severe as a felony. By establishing stronger penalties, this legislation aims to deter the worst lawbreaking and end unfair competition between businesses that cheat and those that do the right thing. We fully support this measure to advance justice in the workplace,\u201d said Jody Calemine, Director of Advocacy, AFL-CIO.\n\n\u201cThis common-sense legislation is long overdue. Too many construction workers are cheated of their hard-earned wages because the penalties for wage theft are a slap on the wrist. Congressman Magaziner is bringing this issue to the forefront with the \"Don't Steal Act\" to overhaul the penalties for wage theft violations so that the abusers will face real consequences for their crimes,\u201d said Michael Sabitoni, General Secretary Treasurer, LIUNA.\n\n\u201cIn this moment of extreme inequality, workers across the country are standing together against corporate greed. With real penalties when the boss violates the law, the Don't STEAL Act gives us an important tool in the fight for our fair share,\u201d said Brandon Mancilla, Director, UAW Region 9A.\n\nRep. Magaziner was joined by Labor Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Donald Norcross (NJ-01), along with Labor Caucus Members Reps. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Dan Goldman (NY-10), and Jill Tokuda (HI-02). Representatives from LiUNA, IBEW, UBC and IUPAT were also in attendance.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by: AFL-CIO; Center for American Progress; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT); International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC); International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC); International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT); Laborers International Union of North American (LiUNA); North America\u2019s Building Trades Union (NABTU); United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC); Operative Plasterers\u2019 and Cement Masons\u2019 International Association (OPCMIA); Public Citizen; Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, Transportation Workers International Association (SMART); United Association Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders, and Service Techs (UA); United Auto Workers (UAW); and United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).\n\nLocal endorsements include LiUNA Local 271; Rhode Island AFL-CIO; IUPAT D.C. 11; RI Building and Construction Trades Council; Carpenters Local Union 330; Ironworkers Local 37; IBEW Local 99; 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East; Build RI; United Nurses & Allied Professionals (UNAP); UAW Region 9A; Teamsters Local 251; IAM District 26; SEIU Local 32BJ; and UA Local 51.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-announces-bill-crack-down-wage-theft"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.808802131563425, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}