Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act

House Bill

H.R. 1397

119th Congress

Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act

In Committee

Introduced:Sep 4, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Lisa Blunt Rochester

Senator

Democratic

DE

Cosponsors

4

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Labor and Employment

Summary

This bill would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work at certain logging operations owned or operated by at least one of their parents or a guardian. It would exempt these young workers from child labor laws that normally restrict the types of jobs minors can have.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work at certain logging operations owned or operated by at least one of their parents or a guardian. It would exempt these young workers from child labor laws that normally restrict the types of jobs minors can have.

Last updated: 12/30/2025

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Future in Logging Careers Act This bill allows individuals who are 16 or 17 years old to work at certain timber harvesting operations that are owned or operated by at least one parent or a person standing in place of a parent. The bill, therefore, exempts such employees from child labor laws.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Exempts 16- and 17-year-olds from child labor laws when working at logging operations owned by their parents or guardians
Allows these young workers to perform tasks that are typically restricted for minors under child labor laws
Aims to provide more opportunities for teenagers to gain work experience in the logging industry

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

If this bill becomes law, it would primarily affect teenagers aged 16 and 17 whose parents or guardians own or operate logging companies. These young workers would be able to take on more physically demanding and hazardous logging jobs that are currently off-limits to minors. Proponents argue this would give teenagers valuable job training, but critics are concerned about the safety risks of allowing young people to operate heavy machinery in the logging industry.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Labor and Employment

Related Subjects

Child safety and welfare

Family relationships

Forests, forestry, trees

Labor standards

Worker safety and health

Youth employment and child labor

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

1397, 119th Congress (2025). "Increasing Access to Dental Insurance Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-1397