The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee July 30 approved, on a bipartisan basis, bills aimed at strengthening Americans' access to quality health care and retirement, addressing drug user fees, rural health care, and Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs).

Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said the Committee was considering pro-worker, pro-family, pro-patient bills. "When the Committee sets politics aside and works together, we can deliver real results for American families," adding that he intends to hold additional markups on member priorities.

Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said we live in an age income and wealth inequality and concentration of ownership, and an antidote to that is empowering workers and creating a climate in which workers are involved in the decision-making process. He said, in contrast to the more modest bills considered in Committee today, he sponsors the Employee Ownership Financing Act (S. 2458) to enable workers and small business owners to move forward with ESOPs and other employee ownership programs.

Bills approved by the Committee en bloc, as amended, by a 23-0 vote were:

• S. 2292, Over-the-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Amendments, to revise and extend the user fee program through 2030
• S. 1440, Uniformed Services Leave Parity Act, to make commissioned officers of the U.S. Public Health Service and their beneficiaries eligible for expanded leave benefits
• S. 2398, Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act, to extend the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group established under the 21st Century Cures Act, strengthen related programs, and improve coordination among federal agencies and scientists
• S. 2301, Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act of 2025, establishing conditions for which Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grants and Rural Health Network Development Grants may be awarded to support rural underserved populations, addressing issues including screenings and telehealth
• S. 1728, Employee Ownership Representation Act of 2025, by Chairman Cassidy, to expand the membership of the ERISA Advisory Council to include two representatives of employee ownership organizations
• S. 2403, Retire Through Ownership Act, to provide a clear definition of adequate consideration for certain closely held stock, intended to ensure ESOPs can sell shares to employees without fear of lawsuits

Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) said S. 2403 uses IRS precedent about how to value small, closely held corporations and would provide a safe harbor without possibility of a subsequent action against the owner.

Senator Sanders' amendment to S. 1728 to establish an Office of Employee Ownership at DOL, outside of the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), and an Advisory Council on Employee Ownership, was approved 23-0.

Senator Maggie Hassan's (D-NH) amendment to S. 1728, to establish an Advocate for Employee Ownership within the Employee Ownership Initiative established under the 2022 SECURE 2.0 legislation, was approved 23-0.

Senator Sanders' amendment to S. 2403, to clarify that DOL retains the right to promulgate new regulations around the valuations of ESOPs to protect workers and ensure that fiduciary responsibilities apply, was approved 23-0.

S. 1727, the Employee Ownership Fairness Act of 2025, to permit ESOPs to contribute into 401(k) plans without exceeding contribution limits, was struck from the agenda and not considered by the Committee. Chairman Cassidy said the score was more than members expected, and the proposal is being refined for consideration in the future.

Materials from the markup are available here.

A press release on the Sanders bill is available here.