introduced legislation that would guarantee incarcerated workers nationwide receive the federal minimum wage for their labor. The Fair Wages for Incarcerated Workers Act would ensure incarcerated workers are paid at least the federal minimum wage, eliminate excessive wage deductions, and extend basic labor protections to workers in correctional facilities nationwide.
Support legislation to guarantee incarcerated workers the federal minimum wage and basic labor protections.
Occurrences
Evidence
Congress.gov shows Rep. Emanuel Cleaver as the sponsor of H.R.6293, introduced on 11/08/2023 and referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. The bill summary says it extends Fair Labor Standards Act minimum wage protections to incarcerated workers.
PEOPLE reported that Sen. Cory Booker's incarcerated-workers minimum-wage bill was endorsed by Reps. Emanuel Cleaver and Sydney Kamlager-Dove, who would introduce companion legislation in the House.
Assessments
Cleaver fulfilled this promise by materially supporting the policy through direct legislative action. In the 118th Congress he sponsored H.R. 6293, the Fair Wages for Incarcerated Workers Act of 2023, which would extend federal minimum-wage protections to incarcerated workers. Because the claim is to support such legislation, sponsorship is sufficient even though the bill did not advance to enactment. This delivery occurred during his current federal term, so the timing is same_term.