New bill would crack down on companies that break child labor laws

Amid a rise in the illegal use of child labor in the U.S., a group of Democratic lawmakers has introduced legislation aimed at cracking down on businesses that employ underage workers.

The Child Labor Exploitation Accountability Act, spearheaded by Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and co-sponsored by Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont, would prohibit the U.S. Department of Agriculture from contracting with companies that have a history of "egregious labor law violations" or that utilize third-party vendors that have breached labor laws.

The bill would also require businesses competing for USDA contracts to disclose any workplace infractions by the company or its contractors in the preceding three years.