Reps. Adams, Takano, and Sen. Sanders Reintroduce Restoring Overtime Pay Act

Washington, D.C. - Monday, May 18, 2026, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39), and Senator Bernie Sanders (VT) reintroduced the Restoring Overtime Pay Act to expand and strengthen overtime protections for 29.3 million workers. This legislation comes at a crucial time, as President Donald Trump's tariffs and economic policies are driving up costs for everyday Americans.

60 percent of Americans report they are living paycheck-to-paycheck, and the Trump administration is trying to make life more difficult for working families by weakening the protections set by the Biden administration.

In 1965, almost 63 percent of America's full-time salaried workers were guaranteed overtime pay. Today, only 8 percent of full-time salaried workers are eligible. Salaried workers making over $35,000 a year are exempt from overtime pay regulations; wages and worker protections have not kept up with rising costs, and the law must be updated.

The Restoring Overtime Pay Act will strengthen overtime protections for up to 29.3 million workers by gradually increasing the overtime salary threshold by $10,000 every year until 2029, when the overtime pay threshold would be matched to the 55^th percentile of full-time salaried workers nationwide at a projected $98,000.

"For far too long, tens of millions of Americans have been denied overtime pay because of outdated federal law," said Congresswoman Alma Adams. "In my district, thousands of residents are struggling to make ends meet while the Trump administration puts the interests of billionaires above those of ordinary Americans. Working people need overtime pay now more than ever, and I am proud to partner with Congressman Takano and Senator Sanders to introduce the Restoring Overtime Pay Act and ensure workers are paid what they're owed."

"Americans are working more for less," said Congressman Mark Takano. "Expanding the overtime threshold for salaried employees is the best way to ensure that families can survive the cost-of-living crisis caused by Donald Trump. I am proud to introduce this bill to help make sure over 29 million workers get paid fairly."

"At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, when over 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, it is beyond unacceptable that President Trump is denying overtime pay to millions of workers who desperately need it to keep up with the outrageously high cost of living," said Sen. Sanders. "We should be making it easier, not harder, for Americans who work more than 40 hours a week to get the time-and-a-half pay that they have earned and deserve. That's precisely what this bill would do."

Endorsements:AFL-CIO; American Federation of Teachers (AFT); Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance-AFL-CIO (APALA); the Clearinghouse on Women's Issues; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Communications Workers of America (CWA); Dēmos; Family Values @ Work; the Feminist Majority Foundation; International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM); National Employment Lawyers Association; National Employment Law Project (NELP); National Institute for Workers' Rights; National Partnership for Women & Families; National Women's Law Center; NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice; North Carolina Justice Center; Oxfam America; Patriotic Millionaires; Public Justice Center; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); UNITE HERE; United Auto Workers (UAW), United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE); United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW); United for Respect; United Steelworkers (USW); Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center; WorkLife Law.