Good Jobs for Good Airports Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9678 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9678

  To amend title 49, United States Code, require employers of airport
service workers at small, medium, and large hub airports to ensure that
   airport service workers are paid the prevailing wage and provided
                fringe benefits, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 14, 2026

Mr. Garcia of Illinois (for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
 and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Education and
   the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

  To amend title 49, United States Code, require employers of airport
service workers at small, medium, and large hub airports to ensure that
   airport service workers are paid the prevailing wage and provided
                fringe benefits, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Good Jobs for Good Airports Act''.

SEC. 2. GOOD JOBS FOR GOOD AIRPORTS.

    (a) Findings; Purposes.--
            (1) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
                    (A) Safe and effective airport operations are
                essential to national commerce and the general welfare.
                    (B) A well-trained, stable workforce at our
                Nation's airports is critical to ensuring public safety
                and security, as well as the health and safety of the
                public and protection from infectious diseases.
                    (C) The Federal Government has invested billions of
                dollars in creating and maintaining our Nation's
                aviation infrastructure, reflecting the national
                interest in maintaining airports across the country.
                    (D) Airport services are most effective when the
                workforce providing those services is able to earn a
                living wage and able to secure adequate health benefit
                coverage. In fact, meeting the growing challenges of
                operating airports securely and efficiently requires
                the recruitment and retention of excellent staff in all
                of the classifications of employees who work in airport
                services and operations.
                    (E) Effective management of airports and effective
                airport security requires that workforce turnover be
                reduced and that the workforce be highly trained and
                highly motivated.
                    (F) In connection with setting wage and benefits
                standards for those engaged in airport services, there
                is a need to establish an orderly system that
                reconciles competing interests without undue
                disruption.
            (2) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
                    (A) to provide a mechanism for ensuring minimum
                wage and benefits standards for individuals who work in
                airports; and
                    (B) to serve the best interests of the people of
                the United States by stabilizing the workplace
                conditions of the labor pool that supports our Nation's
                airport operations.
    (b) Amendments to Title 49 of United States Code to Ensure Minimum
Wage and Benefits for Covered Service Workers.--
            (1) Covered service worker definition.--Section 40102(a) of
        title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end
        the following:
            ``(48) `covered service worker'--
                    ``(A) means an individual who furnishes services
                for, or on the property or premises of, a small hub
                airport, medium hub airport, or large hub airport,
                performing--
                            ``(i) functions that are related to the air
                        transportation of persons, property, or mail,
                        including--
                                    ``(I) the loading or unloading of
                                property on aircraft or a building or
                                facility on the airport property;
                                    ``(II) assistance to passengers,
                                including assistance under part 382 of
                                title 14, Code of Federal Regulations;
                                    ``(III) security;
                                    ``(IV) airport ticketing or check-
                                in functions;
                                    ``(V) ground-handling of aircraft
                                or related equipment (but not including
                                mechanical services, machinery
                                maintenance, car service maintenance,
                                services at maintenance-related stores,
                                fueling, de-icing, or other mechanic-
                                related functions);
                                    ``(VI) aircraft cleaning and
                                sanitization functions or waste
                                removal;
                                    ``(VII) cleaning within an airport
                                terminal or other building or facility
                                on the airport property;
                                    ``(VIII) transportation of
                                employees or individuals within the
                                airport property; or
                                    ``(IX) ramp agent functions;
                            ``(ii) concessions services on the property
                        of an airport, including--
                                    ``(I) food service, including food
                                and beverage service, wait service,
                                busing, cooks, or cashiers;
                                    ``(II) retail service, including
                                retail related to news or gifts or
                                duty-free retail services;
                                    ``(III) cleaning for concession
                                services;
                                    ``(IV) security for concession
                                services; or
                                    ``(V) airport lounge services,
                                including food, retail, cleaning, or
                                security services for or at an airport
                                lounge;
                            ``(iii) airline catering services (such as
                        the preparation or assembly of food, beverages,
                        provisions, or related supplies on the airport
                        property or premises or offsite for delivery,
                        and the delivery of such items, directly to
                        aircraft or to a location on or near airport
                        property for subsequent delivery to aircraft at
                        the airport); or
                            ``(iv) food or beverage service,
                        housekeeping, or hotel service at a hotel
                        located on airport property;
                    ``(B) includes an individual without regard to any
                contractual relationship alleged to exist between the
                individual and a contractor or subcontractor;
                    ``(C) shall not include an employee to whom the
                exemption under section 13(a)(1) of the Fair Labor
                Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 213(a)(1)) applies;
                and
                    ``(D) shall not include an employee of--
                            ``(i) a State, municipality, or other
                        political subdivision of a State or an
                        authority created by an agreement between 2 or
                        more States; or
                            ``(ii) the Transportation Security
                        Administration or a qualified private screening
                        company performing security screening of
                        passengers pursuant to a contract entered into
                        with the Transportation Security
                        Administration.
            ``(49) `covered employer' means any person engaged in
        commerce, or in any industry or activity affecting commerce,
        who employs 1 or more covered service worker.''.
            (2) Air commerce and safety.--
                    (A) In general.--Chapter 401 of title 49, United
                States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
                following new section:
``Sec. 40133. Labor standards for certain airport service jobs
    ``(a) Requirement.--Any covered employer providing services at or
for a small, medium, or large hub airport shall ensure that all covered
service workers, including those subject to a collective bargaining
agreement, employed by the covered employer are paid a wage and fringe
benefits that are--
            ``(1) with respect to such wage, not less than the higher
        of--
                    ``(A) the minimum hourly wage for the appropriate
                locality and classification as determined in accordance
                with chapter 67 of title 41, United States Code
                (commonly known as the `Service Contract Act'), by the
                Secretary of Labor under subsection (c)(1)(A), adjusted
                annually to reflect any changes made by such Secretary
                in such determinations; or
                    ``(B) the minimum hourly wage required under an
                applicable State or local minimum wage law (including a
                regulation) or policy, including the policy of a
                political subdivision of a State or an authority
                created by a compact between 2 or more States or 1 or
                more States and the District of Columbia, that applies
                to covered service workers; and
            ``(2) with respect to such fringe benefits, not less than
        the greater of--
                    ``(A) the minimum fringe benefits for the
                appropriate locality and classification as determined
                in accordance with chapter 67 of title 41, United
                States Code (commonly known as the `Service Contract
                Act'), by the Secretary of Labor under subsection
                (c)(1)(A), adjusted annually to reflect any changes
                made by such Secretary in such determinations; or
                    ``(B) the minimum fringe benefits required under an
                applicable State or local law (including a regulation)
                or policy, including the policy of a political
                subdivision of a State or an authority created by a
                compact between 2 or more States or 1 or more States
                and the District of Columbia, that applies to covered
                service workers.
    ``(b) Certification Requirement for Covered Employers.--
            ``(1) In general.--A covered employer shall certify, under
        penalty of perjury, in a manner determined by the Secretary of
        Transportation, on a monthly basis that all covered service
        workers, including those subject to a collective bargaining
        agreement, employed by the covered employer are provided wage
        and fringe benefits that comply with the requirements described
        in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a).
            ``(2) Failure to submit certification.--The failure to
        submit a certification under paragraph (1) shall constitute a
        violation of this section.
            ``(3) False certification.--The submission of a false
        certification under paragraph (1) shall constitute a violation
        of this section.
    ``(c) Classifications and Wage Determinations.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor shall--
                    ``(A) not later than 120 days after the date of
                enactment of this section and in accordance with
                paragraph (2), issue a wage determination with minimum
                hourly wage and fringe benefits in accordance with the
                methodology used by the Secretary of Labor under
                chapter 67 of title 41, United States Code (commonly
                known as the `Service Contract Act'), appropriate for
                each class of covered service worker for purposes of
                paragraphs (1)(A) and (2)(A) of subsection (a); and
                    ``(B) not later than 120 days after the date of
                enactment of this section and annually thereafter,
                provide to the Secretary of Transportation the
                applicable minimum hourly wage and fringe benefits
                required for purposes of subsection (a) with respect to
                each such class of covered service worker.
            ``(2) New occupational categories.--In issuing the wage
        determinations under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary of Labor--
                    ``(A) shall ensure that each class of covered
                service worker is classified appropriately in a
                category of occupation of a type covered under chapter
                67 of title 41, United States Code; and
                    ``(B) to the extent needed to carry out
                subparagraph (A), may establish 1 or more new
                categories of occupation of a type covered under
                chapter 67 of title 41, United States Code, to ensure
                that all classes of covered service workers have an
                appropriate determination of minimum hourly wage and
                fringe benefits.
    ``(d) Rulemaking Authority.--The Secretary of Labor and the
Secretary of Transportation may prescribe regulations to implement this
section, provided that such regulations prescribed by the Secretary of
Transportation shall be consistent with such regulations prescribed by
the Secretary of Labor.
    ``(e) Enforcement.--
            ``(1) Wage and benefit enforcement.--The Secretary of Labor
        shall have the authority to enforce the wage and fringe benefit
        requirements for covered service workers described in
        paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a), including the
        authority to issue orders, conduct investigations, examine the
        records of covered employers, hold hearings, make decisions
        based on findings of fact, and take other appropriate action
        pursuant to the authority of the Secretary of Labor under the
        Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.).
            ``(2) Certification enforcement.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation
                shall have the authority to enforce the certification
                requirement described in subsection (b), including the
                authority to issue orders, conduct investigations,
                examine the records of covered employers, hold
                hearings, make decisions based on findings of fact, and
                take other appropriate action pursuant to the Secretary
                of Transportation's authority.
                    ``(B) Considerations.--In determining whether a
                covered employer submitted a false certification under
                subsection (b), the Secretary of Transportation shall
                consider as evidence any findings of fact made by the
                Secretary of Labor regarding a covered employer's
                failure to comply with the wage and fringe benefit
                requirements described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of
                subsection (a).
    ``(f) Non-preemption of State or Local Laws.--Nothing in this
section shall preempt any State or local law (including a regulation)
or policy that requires a higher minimum wage or otherwise requires
greater benefits or protections for covered service workers than the
requirements of this section.
    ``(g) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act, and annually
thereafter, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives a report on the efforts of the Secretary to implement
such Act, as well as an assessment of the efforts of covered employers
to come into compliance with the requirements of such Act.
    ``(h) Publication of Data.--The Secretary of Transportation shall
publish complaint data relating to covered service workers in a manner
comparable to other aviation consumer complaint data.''.
                    (B) Clerical amendment.--The analysis for chapter
                401 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
                inserting after the item relating to section 40132 the
                following:

``40133. Labor standards for certain airport service jobs.''.
            (3) Penalties.--Section 46301 of title 49, United States
        Code, is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a) by adding at the end the
                following new paragraph:
            ``(9) Penalties relating to labor standards for certain
        airport service jobs.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the
        maximum civil penalty for a violation of section 40133 shall be
        an amount not to exceed 3 times the amount of a civil penalty
        as described in paragraph (1).''; and
                    (B) in subsection (c)(1)(A) by striking ``or
                section 44909 of this title'' and inserting ``section
                44909, or section 40133 of this title.''.
            (4) Investigations and proceedings.--
                    (A) In general.--Chapter 461 of title 49, United
                States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
                following new section:
``Sec. 46112. Enforcement of labor standards for certain airport
              service jobs by interested persons
    ``An interested person may bring a civil action in a district court
of the United States against a person to enforce section 40133. The
action may be brought in the judicial district in which the defendant
does business or the violation occurred.''.
                    (B) Clerical amendment.--The analysis for chapter
                461 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by
                inserting after the item relating to section 46111 the
                following:

``46112. Enforcement of labor standards for certain airport service
                            jobs by interested persons.''.
    (c) Minimum Wage and Fringe Benefits for Covered Service Workers
Under Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.--Section 6 of the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
    ``(h) Covered Service Workers Performing Services for Small,
Medium, and Large Hub Airports.--
            ``(1) In general.--In lieu of the rate prescribed by
        subsection (a)(1), an employer shall pay each employee employed
        as a covered service worker (as defined in section 40102(a) of
        title 49, United States Code), providing services at or for a
        small hub airport, medium hub airport, or large hub airport (as
        those terms are defined in such section), who in any workweek
        is engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for
        commerce, or is employed in an enterprise engaged in commerce
        or in the production of goods for commerce, a minimum wage and
        fringe benefits as provided under section 40133(a) of title 49,
        United States Code.
            ``(2) Administration and enforcement of fringe benefits.--
        For purposes of administration and enforcement of any unpaid
        fringe benefits required under paragraph (1), the fair market
        value amount of any such fringe benefits shall be deemed unpaid
        minimum wages under this Act.''.
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