HRPA Endorses Clarity on Independent Contractors as House Mulls Workforce Issues

HR Policy Association advocated for a pair of recently-introduced bills that would modernize worker classification law and expand access to benefits for contractors. The Association’s timing coincided with the House Committee on Education & Workforce’s Wednesday hearing that addressed a variety of workplace policy issues.

Much needed worker classification reform: Our letter to the Committee, which was submitted into the hearing record, expressed support for two bills recently introduced by Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), the Modern Worker Empowerment Act (MWEA) and the Modern Worker Security Act (MWSA). The bills would modernize and simplify the standard for determining worker classification and allow employers to provide benefits to contractors without requiring reclassification as employees.

• HRPA emphasized the need to end regulatory ping-pong on worker classification and to establish a federal standard through legislation that provides clarity and consistency. 

• HRPA also applauded the effort to expand access to benefits for contractors while preserving desired flexibility – HRPA has long advocated for such a legislative solution. 

The Committee hearing: The hearing, "Unleashing America's Workforce and Strengthening Our Economy," addressed the proposed bills but also touched on a wide variety of workplace topics including labor law reform, overtime rules, health care pricing transparency, ERISA, and DOGE access to DOL data. 

• Republican members offered varying degrees of support for Rep. Kiley’s proposals, while Democratic members spent significant time on the issues related to the NLRB’s current lack of quorum after President Trump’s unprecedented termination of Democratic board member Gwynne Wilcox. 

HRPA is urging Congress to pass both the MWEA and MWSA without delay. Read our letter to Capitol Hill here.