What does HR10373 do?

This legislation establishes a categorical federal prohibition on the garnishment of employee wages to satisfy medical debts. The bill addresses a significant intersection of labor law and consumer financial protection by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to insert a new protective provision that shields workers' earnings from collection actions arising out of health care obligations. The core objective is to prevent creditors, courts, and state agencies from compelling employers to withhold wages when the underlying debt stems from the receipt of medical items or services. By embedding this protection within the FLSA framework, the bill leverages an existing and well-enforced federal labor statute to provide broad, nationwide coverage for all employees subject to that Act. The legislation reflects a policy judgment that wages represent a worker's primary means of economic survival and that medical debt — often incurred involuntarily and without meaningful price transparency — warrants special protection from the most coercive form of debt collection available to creditors.

Who sponsored HR10373?

Robert Scott, Ilhan Omar, Greg Casar, Summer Lee, Frederica Wilson

What is the status of HR10373?

Introduced as of September 14, 2026.

What does HR10373 do?

This legislation establishes a categorical federal prohibition on the garnishment of employee wages to satisfy medical debts. The bill addresses a significant intersection of labor law and consumer financial protection by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to insert a new protective provision that shields workers' earnings from collection actions arising out of health care obligations. The core objective is to prevent creditors, courts, and state agencies from compelling employers to withhold wages when the underlying debt stems from the receipt of medical items or services. By embedding this protection within the FLSA framework, the bill leverages an existing and well-enforced federal labor statute to provide broad, nationwide coverage for all employees subject to that Act. The legislation reflects a policy judgment that wages represent a worker's primary means of economic survival and that medical debt — often incurred involuntarily and without meaningful price transparency — warrants special protection from the most coercive form of debt collection available to creditors.

Who sponsored HR10373?

Robert Scott, Ilhan Omar, Greg Casar, Summer Lee, Frederica Wilson

What is the status of HR10373?

Introduced as of September 14, 2026.

HR10373 U.S. House: Protecting Workers' Wages from Medical…

Introduced

Introduced in House · September 15, 2026

September 14, 2026

Mr. Scott of Virginia (for himself, Ms. Omar, and Mr. Casar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit the garnishment of wages in relation to medical debt, 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 “Protecting Workers' Wages from Medical Debt Act”.

Introduced

Introduced in House · September 15, 2026

September 14, 2026

Mr. Scott of Virginia (for himself, Ms. Omar, and Mr. Casar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit the garnishment of wages in relation to medical debt, 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 “Protecting Workers' Wages from Medical Debt Act”.

Introduced

Introduced in House · September 15, 2026

September 14, 2026

Mr. Scott of Virginia (for himself, Ms. Omar, and Mr. Casar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit the garnishment of wages in relation to medical debt, 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 “Protecting Workers' Wages from Medical Debt Act”.

Introduced

Introduced in House · September 15, 2026

September 14, 2026

Mr. Scott of Virginia (for himself, Ms. Omar, and Mr. Casar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit the garnishment of wages in relation to medical debt, 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 “Protecting Workers' Wages from Medical Debt Act”.

H.R.10373

H.R.10373

H.R.10373

H.R.10373