§ 202. — Congressional finding and declaration of policy.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 29USC202]
TITLE 29--LABOR
CHAPTER 8--FAIR LABOR STANDARDS
Sec. 202. Congressional finding and declaration of policy
(a) The Congress finds that the existence, in industries engaged in
commerce or in the production of goods for commerce, of labor conditions
detrimental to the maintenance of the minimum standard of living
necessary for health, efficiency, and general well-being of workers (1)
causes commerce and the channels and instrumentalities of commerce to be
used to spread and perpetuate such labor conditions among the workers of
the several States; (2) burdens commerce and the free flow of goods in
commerce; (3) constitutes an unfair method of competition in commerce;
(4) leads to labor disputes burdening and obstructing commerce and the
free flow of goods in commerce; and (5) interferes with the orderly and
fair marketing of goods in commerce. That Congress further finds that
the employment of persons in domestic service in households affects
commerce.
(b) It is declared to be the policy of this chapter, through the
exercise by Congress of its power to regulate commerce among the several
States and with foreign nations, to correct and as rapidly as
practicable to eliminate the conditions above referred to in such
industries without substantially curtailing employment or earning power.
(June 25, 1938, ch. 676, Sec. 2, 52 Stat. 1060; Oct. 26, 1949, ch. 736,
Sec. 2, 63 Stat. 910; Pub. L. 93-259, Sec. 7(a), Apr. 8, 1974, 88 Stat.
62.)
Amendments
1974--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 93-259 inserted finding of Congress that
employment of persons in domestic service in households affects
commerce.
1949--Subsec. (b). Act Oct. 26, 1949, inserted reference to
regulation of commerce with foreign nations.
Effective Date of 1974 Amendment
Section 29(a) of Pub. L. 93-259 provided that: ``Except as otherwise
specifically provided, the amendments made by this Act [see Short Title
of 1974 Amendment note set out under section 201 of this title] shall
take effect on May 1, 1974.''
Effective Date of 1949 Amendment
Section 16(a) of act Oct. 26, 1949, provided that: ``The amendments
made by this Act [enacting section 216b of this title, amending this
section and sections 203 to 208, 211 to 216, and 217 of this title, and
repealing section 216a of this title] shall take effect upon the
expiration of ninety days from the date of its enactment [Oct. 26,
1947]; except that the amendment made by section 4 [amending section 204
of this title] shall take effect on the date of its enactment [Oct. 26,
1949].''
Rules, Regulations, and Orders With Regard to Fair Labor Standards
Amendments of 1974
Section 29(b) of Pub. L. 93-259 provided that: ``Notwithstanding
subsection (a) [set out as an Effective Date of 1974 Amendment note
above], on and after the date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 8,
1974] the Secretary of Labor is authorized to prescribe necessary rules,
regulations, and orders with regard to the amendments made by this Act
[see Short Title of 1974 Amendment note set out under section 201 of
this title].''
