Cape News

The U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has approved the bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Josh Hawley and Cory Booker aimed at preventing child labor exploitation in federal contracting. Senator Hawley emphasized the importance of the bill, stating, "Companies that illegally employ children have no business leveraging lucrative federal government contracts for corporate gain. This bipartisan legislation would hold companies' feet to the fire for engaging in child labor exploitation and rightfully hold offenders accountable."

The legislation, known as the Preventing Child Labor Exploitation in Federal Contracting Act, includes provisions such as requiring companies to certify compliance with child labor laws when bidding on federal contracts and imposing penalties for violations. Companies found in violation of child labor provisions would be ineligible for federal contracts for at least four years.

The background of this legislation includes Senator Hawley's efforts to address child labor issues and hold companies accountable for their practices. This includes questioning government officials about missing migrant children, demanding answers from corporations like Tyson Foods regarding child labor practices, and introducing previous legislation aimed at eliminating child labor in large corporations.

The bipartisan nature of this bill, with support from both Republican and Democratic senators, reflects a united front in the fight against child labor exploitation. The Senate Committee's approval marks a significant step towards cracking down on illegal child labor practices and ensuring that companies are held responsible for their actions.