Dingell Introduces Bill to Protect HCBS Workers’ Paycheck Flexibility

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today introduced the HCBS Worker Protection Act, legislation that would enable independent provider home care workers to make deductions from their pay for typical employment benefits. This bill strikes language from the so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill" that would prohibit Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) workers from being able to make deductions from their own pay for health insurance, skills training, union dues, charity contributions, and other employment benefits that other workers enjoy.

"Expanding access to home care is critical. We know that the majority of people who require long-term care would prefer to receive it in the comfort of their homes and communities where they can live with dignity and independence," Dingell said. "In order to expand home and community-based care, we must support the workers who provide these crucial services. We cannot expect people to do this work if we deny them the benefits they would receive if they worked for another employer. This bill would help improve pay and benefits for HCBS providers and strengthen the workforce."

This bill is endorsed by Caring Across Generations, AFSCME, SEIU, National Domestic Workers Alliance, and National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals.

"Home care workers nationwide have long organized for fair pay, benefits, and the freedom to support themselves while caring for seniors and people with disabilities," said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. "As they continue to fight for dignity and respect on the job, the so-called 'Big Beautiful Bill' goes out of its way to target this predominantly women- and women-of-color workforce by blocking them from making voluntary paycheck deductions - a basic right most other workers can exercise freely. Rep. Dingell's HCBS Worker Protection Act of 2025 would strike this unfair and discriminatory measure and protect providers' hard-fought freedoms. Congress should not tell home care workers how to spend their own paychecks, and we are proud to support this bill."

"Home care workers do the essential work that keeps our families safe and our communities running. But instead of honoring that work, Republicans in Congress have targeted them with yet another attack-this time through the OBBBA - which blocks these workers from making voluntary paycheck deductions to support their union," said Leslie Frane, Executive Vice President, SEIU. "This restriction strips them of a fundamental right all workers deserve: the freedom to build a strong union and advocate for better conditions. It's a move rooted in a long history of systemic racism against a workforce made up largely of women of color and immigrants. Rep. Dingell understands that striking down the harmful restriction is critical to ensuring care workers have the freedom to come together, speak out, and build their union. This isn't just about paycheck logistics - it's about dignity, stability, and having a real voice to improve their lives and the care they provide."

"Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) are a lifeline for families across the country. The quality of this care depends on being able to appropriately compensate the qualified, compassionate workforce who cares for our loved ones," said Ai-jen Poo, President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. "We applaud the introduction of the HCBS Worker Protection Act for taking an important step towards ensuring the care workers who provide these critical services to our aging and disabled family and community members are paid accordingly. Our care workforce deserves the dignity of a living wage and families deserve the peace of mind knowing their loved ones are receiving the care they need."

"This bill does something that historically our country has not, recognizing the value of direct care workers and the support that they need to care for those who need it," said Joseph Macbeth, CEO of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals. "Given the massive cuts to Medicaid passed in July, and the major impact that will have on this workforce, this legislation is an imperative for direct care workers and the people with disabilities who rely on them."