To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to permit State and local government workers to perform volunteer services for their employer or community organization or purpose without requiring the employer to pay them compensation.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 21, 1997

Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exclude from coverage State or local government employees who volunteer, solely at their own option, either for no compensation or for only expenses, reasonable benefits, or a nominal fee, to perform services for their public agency employer or for a community organization or purpose. Prohibits any public agency employer from requiring (directly or indirectly) an employee to volunteer to perform services for such agency or for a community organization or purpose.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Myrick, Sue Wilkins [R-NC-9] · R–NC

Committees

Education and Workforce Committee

15 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.

Jan 31, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
Jan 21, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Jan 21, 1997
Introduced in House
Jan 21, 1997
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 · Jan 21, 1997 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

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.484 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.484, 105th Congress: To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to permit State and local government workers to perform volunteer services for their employer or community organization or purpose without requiring the employer to pay them compensation.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/484

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-01-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr484/BILLS-105hr484ih.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.484 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.484 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.484, 105th Congress: To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to permit State and local government workers to perform volunteer services for their employer or community organization or purpose without requiring the employer to pay them compensation.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/484

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-01-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr484/BILLS-105hr484ih.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.484 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.484 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.484, 105th Congress: To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to permit State and local government workers to perform volunteer services for their employer or community organization or purpose without requiring the employer to pay them compensation.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/484

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-01-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr484/BILLS-105hr484ih.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.484 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.484 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.484, 105th Congress: To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to permit State and local government workers to perform volunteer services for their employer or community organization or purpose without requiring the employer to pay them compensation.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/484

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1997-01-21.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/105/bills/hr484/BILLS-105hr484ih.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.484 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.