To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require paid rest breaks for certain construction employees, and for other purposes.

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jul 20, 2022

This bill requires employers to provide construction employees with paid rest breaks and protects employees against related retaliatory actions.

Specifically, the bill requires that construction employees receive at least one 15-minute paid rest break for every four hours of work. An employer may not take retaliatory personnel action or otherwise discriminate against a construction employee who (1) requests or takes paid rest breaks, or (2) files a related complaint with the Department of Labor.

At the time of hiring an employee, an employer must provide notice of the right to paid rest breaks and protections against related retaliatory actions in the construction employee's primary language. Further, the employer must post this information at construction work sites in both English and Spanish.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] · D–TX

Committees

Education and Workforce Committee

13 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.

Jul 20, 2022
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Jul 20, 2022
Introduced in House
Jul 20, 2022
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 · Jul 20, 2022 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 785 · To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require paid rest breaks for certain construction employees, and for other purposes.

Source last updated: Jul 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.8444 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.8444, 117th Congress: To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require paid rest breaks for certain construction employees, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8444

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2022-07-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr8444/BILLS-117hr8444ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-07-21T19:44:15Z. 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.8444 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.8444 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.8444, 117th Congress: To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require paid rest breaks for certain construction employees, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8444

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2022-07-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr8444/BILLS-117hr8444ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-07-21T19:44:15Z. 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.8444 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.8444 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.8444, 117th Congress: To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require paid rest breaks for certain construction employees, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8444

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2022-07-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr8444/BILLS-117hr8444ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-07-21T19:44:15Z. 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.8444 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.8444 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.8444, 117th Congress: To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to require paid rest breaks for certain construction employees, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8444

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2022-07-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr8444/BILLS-117hr8444ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-07-21T19:44:15Z. 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.8444 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.