In recent years, the U.S. has seen a sharp increase in children working in hazardous jobs that have been illegal for decades. Many people feel the current laws are too weak because the fines are so low that big companies aren't afraid of them. If this bill becomes law, a single violation that results in the death of a child could cost a company millions of dollars in fines and land executives in prison.

Without this bill, the current system remains in place, where the maximum fine for a child labor violation is roughly $15,000—an amount many critics argue is not enough to stop profitable companies from cutting corners. This bill attempts to treat child labor as a serious crime rather than a minor regulatory error.