September 8, 2025
Mr. Norcross (for himself, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Ms. Simon, Mr. Magaziner, Ms. Norton, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Hoyle of Oregon, Mr. Deluzio, Ms. Budzinski, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Casar, Ms. Jayapal, Ms. Barragán, Ms. Adams, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Chu, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Omar, Ms. Randall, and Mr. Carson) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Social Security Act to provide that an individual engaged in a labor dispute may receive unemployment benefits.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Unemployment insurance for striking workers
(a) In general
Section 3304(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking and
at the end of paragraph (18), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (19) and inserting ; and
, and by adding at the end the following:
(20)
in the case of an individual who is employed but unable to work due to a labor dispute (including any controversy concerning terms, tenure or conditions of employment, or concerning the association or representation of persons in negotiating, fixing, maintaining, changing, or seeking to arrange terms or conditions of employment, regardless of whether the disputants stand in the proximate relation of employer and employee), including an individual unable to work as an indirect result of such a labor dispute, compensation is payable to such individual as though such individual were unemployed beginning on the date that is the earlier of—
(A)
the date that is 14 days after the date on which a strike began;
(B)
the date on which a lock-out began;
(C)
the date on which the employer hired permanent replacement workers; or
(D)
the date on which the strike or lock-out ended and the individual became unemployed.
(b) Exemption from work availability requirement
Section 303(a)(12) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 503(a)(12)) is amended by inserting (other than a claimant who is an individual unable to work due to a labor dispute as described in section 3304(a)(20) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986)
after claimant
.