To repeal the minimum wage requirement of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and for other purposes.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 16, 1996

Repeals the minimum wage requirement under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. Prohibits the Federal Government from taking any action to regulate or otherwise impede actions taken by the States or local governments to enact or implement minimum wage laws.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Lightfoot, Jim [R-IA-3] · R–IA

Committees

Education and Workforce Committee

25 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jun 7, 1996
Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
May 16, 1996
Referred to the House Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities.
May 16, 1996
Introduced in House
May 16, 1996
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · May 16, 1996 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Mar 23, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.3481 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3481, 104th Congress: To repeal the minimum wage requirement of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/3481

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1996-05-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr3481/BILLS-104hr3481ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-03-23T12:47:58Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.3481 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.3481 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3481, 104th Congress: To repeal the minimum wage requirement of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/3481

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1996-05-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr3481/BILLS-104hr3481ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-03-23T12:47:58Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3481 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.3481 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3481, 104th Congress: To repeal the minimum wage requirement of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/3481

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1996-05-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr3481/BILLS-104hr3481ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-03-23T12:47:58Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3481 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.3481 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3481, 104th Congress: To repeal the minimum wage requirement of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/house-bill/3481

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1996-05-16.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/hr3481/BILLS-104hr3481ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-03-23T12:47:58Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3481 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.