1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Reward Work Act”.
Reward Work Act
A BILL
To prohibit public companies from repurchasing their shares on the open market, and for other purposes.
2. Prohibition on stock buybacks on the open market
Definitions— In this section—
the term covered issuer means an issuer that—
receives financial assistance relating to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic; and
has repurchased more than $1,000,000,000 of the securities of the issuer on the open market over the during the previous 5-year period;
the terms equity security, exchange, and issuer have the meanings given the terms in section 3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c); and
the term national securities exchange means an exchange registered under section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78f).
Prohibitions— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no covered issuer may purchase an equity security of the covered issuer on a national securities exchange.
No force or effect— Section 240.10b–18 of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations, shall have no force or effect.
Rule of construction— Nothing in this section may be construed to affect tender offers subject to section 240.13e–4 and sections 240.14e–1 through 240.14f–1 of title 17, Code of Federal Regulations.
3. Worker representation on corporate board of directors
Definitions— In this section—
the term covered issuer has the meaning given the term in section 2(a);
the term director has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c); and
the term employee—
has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152);
includes any individual employed by an employer subject to the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151 et seq.).
Registration requirements for securities— Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78l(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(4)
“(A) In this paragraph, the term covered issuer means an issuer that—
“(i) receives financial assistance relating to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic; and
“(ii) has repurchased more than $1,000,000,000 of the securities of the issuer on the open market over the during the previous 5-year period.
“(B) No covered issuer may register securities on a national exchange unless at least 1/3 of the covered issuer’s directors are chosen by the covered issuer’s employees in a one-employee-one-vote election process.”
Policy— The Securities and Exchange Commission, in consultation with the National Labor Relations Board, shall promulgate regulations—
to ensure that elections of directors of covered issuers are fair and democratic; and
to ensure that 1/3 of a covered issuer’s board of directors will be composed of employee representatives within 2 years of the date of enactment of this Act.
4. Regulations
The Securities and Exchange Commission shall promulgate regulations to direct national securities exchanges and covered issuers, as defined in section 2(a), to comply with this Act and the amendments made by this Act.