S. 4838 is a bill that proposes changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. It aims to exempt certain employees who work in outdoor recreational outfitting or guiding services from the requirements for minimum wage and maximum working hours. This means that these employees may not be guaranteed a minimum pay rate or limits on the number of hours they can work.
Supporters of S. 4838 argue that the bill will provide greater flexibility for businesses in the outdoor recreation industry, potentially allowing them to offer more competitive pricing and hire more staff. Proponents believe that this will help stimulate the economy in rural areas where outdoor activities are a significant source of income.
Critics of S. 4838 express concerns that the bill undermines workers' rights by removing essential protections related to minimum wage and maximum hours. They argue that this could lead to exploitation of employees in the outdoor recreation sector, making it difficult for them to earn a living wage and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
The analysis of bill S. 4838, which seeks to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to exempt certain outdoor recreational employees from minimum wage and maximum hours requirements, reveals no direct industry overlaps with the sponsor Steve Daines' top donor industries. The primary lobbying activity in this policy area comes from entities related to healthcare and biotechnology, with significant contributions such as $230,000 from the Midsized Biotech Alliance of America and various amounts from other health-related organizations. However, these industries do not directly relate to outdoor recreation or labor standards, suggesting a low risk of conflict of interest. Voters should be aware that while the financial contributions are substantial, they do not pertain to the specific subject matter of the bill, indicating that the motivations behind the bill may not be influenced by these donors.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MIDSIZED BIOTECH ALLIANCE OF AMERICA (MBAA) | LMH STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS | $230,000 |
| STEALTH BIOTHERAPEUTICS INC. | LMH STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS | $60,000 |
| SAVARA INC. | LMH STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS | $60,000 |
| REGENXBIO INC. | LMH STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS | $60,000 |
| PTC THERAPEUTICS, INC. | LMH STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS | $50,000 |
| INCYTE CORPORATION | LMH STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS | $50,000 |
| HARMONY BIOSCIENCES | LMH STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS | $50,000 |
| GLAXOSMITHKLINE LLC | LMH STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS | $50,000 |
| PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH AND MANUFACTURERS OF AMERICA | LMH STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS | $30,000 |
| NEUROPACE, INC. | LMH STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS | $30,000 |
| IONIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. | LMH STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS | $30,000 |
| ERISA INDUSTRY COMMITTEE (ERIC) | LMH STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS | $30,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE HEALTH | LMH STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS | $20,000 |
| NATERA, INC. | LMH STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS | $20,000 |
| MEDICAL DEVICE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION | LMH STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS | $20,000 |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Steve Daines, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
