Bill · H.R. 9859· House(119-HR-9859)
Ethical Investigations and Integrity Act
- Introduced
- 7/22/2026
- Last activity
- 7/22/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Sponsored by
- Mark Messmer
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Ethical Investigations and Integrity Act," focuses on the Secretary of Labor's interactions with individuals. It requires the Secretary to enter into written agreements before providing "adverse assistance," which involves sharing information or advice directed toward an attorney for use in civil actions regarding laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division. Under this act, the Secretary must also provide copies of these agreements to potentially impacted employers or contractors. Additionally, the Secretary is required to submit annual reports to Congress detailing these agreements and the nature of the assistance provided.
Yes
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+5
The bill increases transparency by requiring the Secretary of Labor to submit annual reports to Congress detailing adverse assistance agreements and communication logs.
Would business owners be better off under this?+3
The bill benefits business owners by granting them notice of agreements that might adversely impact their operations.
Does this make it easier to run a small business?+2
The bill provides employers and contractors with transparency by requiring them to receive copies of agreements that may adversely impact them.
The opposite
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?-2
The increased administrative burden and disclosure requirements for the Secretary may reduce the availability of assistance for individuals seeking to pursue wage-related civil actions.
Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise?-2
The bill requires the Secretary of Labor to disclose assistance agreements to potentially impacted employers, which could discourage information sharing that assists worker-led civil actions.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Transparency through Reporting: The Secretary must submit a report to Congress every year that includes the date of the agreement and a detailed description of the assistance provided, such as the information shared and logs of communications or meetings (Section 2(b)).
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Clarity for Individuals: The bill requires the Secretary to enter into a written agreement with an individual that details the specific nature and scope of the assistance before it is provided (Section 2(a)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Impact on Employers or Contractors: The Secretary is required to provide a copy of the adverse assistance agreement to any employer or contractor that may be directly and adversely impacted by such assistance (Section 2(a)(2)).
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Burden of Documentation: The Secretary must maintain detailed logs of all verbal communications and meetings, including the date, parties involved, mode of communication, and the nature of any information shared (Section 2(b)(1)(C)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+3Good For Low Income Households-2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+2Improves Union Protections-2
- 7/22/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Introduced in House