Rep. Ocasio-Cortez introduces bill in U.S. House to expand caregiver protections

The new bill authored by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the U.S. House aims to improve workplace protections and compensation for caregiving workers, according to the U.S. Congress.

H.R.7917 was introduced on March 12, 2026 during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to expand protections for certain caregiving employees by removing their exemption from minimum wage and overtime requirements. Specifically, it redefines “babysitting services” to encompass the custodial care of children while excluding roles covered by trained personnel, such as nurses or home care workers. The legislation eliminates the term “casual basis” related to domestic service, adjusting definitions to clarify employment provisions. This aims to ensure that caregivers receive fair compensation for their labor. The bill takes effect on the date of its enactment, reinforcing labor standards within the caregiving sector.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democrat-NY-14th District) and co-sponsored by Rep. Alma S. Adams (Democrat-NY-12th District), Rep. Yassamin Ansari (Democrat-NY-3rd District), and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (Democrat-NY-1st District), along with 55 other sponsors.

Since the beginning of the current session, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez has introduced another six bills.

A related bill, S.4081, was also introduced in the Senate on March 12, 2026. Congressional records list it as an identical companion bill to H.R.7917.

Congressional bills can originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for revenue-related measures, which must begin in the House. After introduction, bills are assigned to committees for review, hearings, amendments and debate before they can advance to a vote in each chamber. If both chambers approve identical versions, the legislation is sent to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it. Congress operates in two-year terms, with each term numbered sequentially and divided into two annual sessions. The legislative process and official bill records are maintained by the U.S. Congress and published through Congress.gov.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a Representative from New York, having been elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses. She graduated with a B.A. from Boston University in 2011 after completing her high school education at Yorktown High School in 2007.

Information in this article was obtained from the U.S. Congress. The source data can be found here.