119th (2025–2027)
H.R. 8980
The Holiday Pay Act would require employers to pay workers one and a half times their regular hourly rate when they work on federal legal holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Independence Day. The bill amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to establish this holiday pay requirement for employees engaged in commerce or working for companies involved in interstate commerce. The legislation applies to most private sector workers but allows for certain exemptions consistent with existing labor law. The bill includes enforcement provisions giving workers the ability to sue for unpaid holiday compensation and allows the Department of Labor to pursue penalties against violating employers. No specific funding or implementation timeline is included in the bill text.