Patriotic Corporations of America Act of 2026
Adds labor, tax, environmental, and other requirements for federal contractors and gives preference to companies meeting specified business-practice standards.
In two House committees since Sept. 16, 2026, 22 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 16, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Federal agencies use contracts to buy goods and services from private companies. This proposal would add labor, tax, environmental, disclosure, and other requirements for companies seeking federal contracts. It would also give greater preference to companies that meet more of a list of worker, business, and AI-related qualifications, with separate rules for Defense contracts.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Sets conditions for federal contract awards
Companies seeking federal contracts would have to meet labor requirements, including a wage floor tied to $15 adjusted for wage growth or 110% of the federal minimum wage, and provide paid sick, family and medical, and vacation leave. They would also have to meet requirements involving workplace safety, taxes, environmental violations, political-contribution disclosure for contracts over $100,000, and plans for disasters and workforce recruitment.
- Restricts some private-equity contractor practices
Private-equity-controlled contractors would have to disclose parent companies and controlling investors and agree to limits on certain dividends, asset transfers, and fees during a contract. If a company in a private-equity firm’s portfolio violates specified labor or environmental rules, other companies controlled by that firm could be barred from federal contracts for five years.
- Rewards specified business practices
Agencies would give greater preference to companies meeting more of a list of qualifications, such as having an employee-elected board member, contributing to portable pensions, disclosing pay gaps, or using safeguards for artificial intelligence. Other qualifying practices include avoiding stock buybacks for five years after a contract begins and not outsourcing jobs outside the United States.
- Adds separate Defense contract rules
The Department of Defense would have its own set of contract requirements and preferences covering many of the same labor, tax, environmental, private-equity, and competition issues. Its preference list also includes detailed disclosure of AI-generated contract content, such as the tool and version used and, when technically feasible, disclosures that cannot be removed or changed.
Federal contracts are a way the government buys goods and services from private companies. The proposal would make a broader set of labor, tax, environmental, ownership, and business-practice standards part of deciding which companies can receive contracts and which receive preference.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 16, 2026HOUSESEP 16, 2026By Rep. Schakowsky with 1 original cosponsorReferred to Armed Services and Oversight and Government Reform
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeesSEP 16, 2026ARMED SERVICES · OVERSIGHT & GOVERNMENT REFORM NOWSEP 16, 2026In committee for 22 daysNo hearing yet
- 22 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 162026SEP 16, 2026REFERREDReferred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- SEP 162026SEP 16, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 22, this bill is already older than 7% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
Support from one state
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Rep. Schakowsky’s record: sponsored 41 bills this Congress. 0 passed the House; 0 became law.
- Greg CasarD-TX-35ORIGINAL
What readers think
Discussion
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