Rep. Summer Lee Joins Jayapal, Norcross, and Omar in Introducing Landmark Bill to Protect and Empower App-Based Workers 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – DECEMBER 12, 2025 — Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) joined Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), and Ilhan Omar (MN-05) in introducing the Empowering App-Based Workers Act, groundbreaking legislation to bring transparency, fairness, and accountability to digital labor platforms such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and Amazon Flex. 

The bill establishes critical guardrails to ensure that automated decision-making systems do not result in discrimination, wage theft, or price-gouging — and that the workers who keep these companies running have the information and protections they deserve. 

“App-based workers in Western Pennsylvania and across this country power our economy, yet far too many are left without basic transparency, stability, or fair pay,” said Congresswoman Summer Lee. “These companies use hidden algorithms and unpredictable pay structures that make it nearly impossible for workers to support their families. The Empowering App-Based Workers Act brings long-overdue accountability by requiring companies to be transparent about how they determine pay and assignments. Workers deserve protection from unfair and exploitative practices, and they deserve to receive their fair share of the value they create.” 

Other lead sponsors emphasized the urgent need for reform. 

“App-based workers work long hours, often with no consistency or predictability of how much they will make,” said Rep. Jayapal. “They are at the whim of algorithms that make automated decisions about who gets to work, and where, and when. Workers and consumers deserve a better system, where workers are protected, employment laws are followed, and where consumers have a transparent price.” 

“The Empowering App-Based Workers Act is a long-overdue step toward fairness and transparency for the millions of rideshare drivers and delivery app workers who keep our economy running,” said Rep. Norcross. “By guaranteeing transparent payment information and higher wages, these workers will finally receive a fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work. App-based workers deserve a good-paying job where they are treated with dignity, compensated fairly, and protected from exploitation.” 

“Gig workers like Uber and Lyft drivers in my home state of Minnesota deserve a fair share of the wealth they create. App-based corporations have hidden behind AI algorithms and predatory take rates while drivers’ pay shrinks and executive profits soar,” said Rep. Omar. “The Empowering App-Based Workers Act will pull back the curtain on how these companies use data, set wages, and make decisions that shape people’s livelihoods. Gig workers should be part of a transparent system that values their labor.” 

App-based workers face increasingly exploitative conditions. In 2024, both Uber and Lyft regularly paid drivers less than minimum wage — even while raising prices for consumers. Corporate take rates frequently hover around 40 percent and can reach as high as 70 percent on individual rides. 

The Empowering App-Based Workers Act will: 

• Require weekly pay statements and itemized receipts so workers know exactly how their earnings are calculated; 
• Require transparency on electronic monitoring and automated decision-making, including how algorithms determine job assignments; 
• Guarantee ride-hail drivers receive at least 75% of the total amount paid by the consumer; 
• Prohibit pay discrimination by ensuring equal pay for equal or comparable work. 

In addition to Reps. Jayapal, Norcross, Omar, and Lee, the legislation is sponsored by Reps. Dan Goldman (NY-10), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mark Takano (CA-39), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12).

Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.4 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 3,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.