Protecting American Jobs Act

Summary: Protecting American Jobs Act - Amends the National Labor Relations Act to repeal the authority of the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to issue, and prosecute before the Board, complaints with respect to unfair labor practices. Repeals the prohibition against: (1) review of an administrative law judge's report by any person other than a Board member or legal assistant; and (2) advice to or consultation with the Board by an administrative law judge with respect to exceptions taken to his or her findings, rulings, or recommendations. Limits the Board's rulemaking authority to rules concerning the internal functions of the Board. Prohibits the Board from promulgating rules or regulations that affect the substantive or procedural rights of a person, employer, employee, or labor organization, including those concerning unfair labor practices and representation elections. Revises Board powers to grant it the authority to investigate unfair labor practices, but repeals its power to prevent any person from engaging in them. Repeals the Board's power to issue a complaint against a person charging an unfair labor practice. Allows an aggrieved person to bring a civil action for relief (including an injunction) in U.S. district court or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in cases where it appears that a person has engaged, is engaging, or is about to engage in an unfair labor practice.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting American Jobs Act''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT.

    (a) Duties of the General Counsel and Administrative Law Judges.--
The National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 3(d), by striking ``and issuance of 
        complaints under section 10, and in respect of the prosecution 
        of such complaints before the Board''; and
            (2) in section 4(a), by striking the fourth sentence.
    (b) Clarification of the Board's Rulemaking Authority.--Section 6 
of such Act (29 U.S.C. 156) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: ``Such rulemaking authority shall be limited to rules 
concerning the internal functions of the Board. The Board shall not 
promulgate rules or regulations that affect the substantive or 
procedural rights of any person, employer, employee, or labor 
organization, including rules and regulations concerning unfair labor 
practices and representation elections.''.
    (c) Investigatory Power and Adjudicatory Authority Over Unfair 
Labor Practice Allegations.--Section 10 of such Act (29 U.S.C. 160) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``prevent any person from engaging 
                in'' and inserting ``investigate''; and
                    (B) by striking ``This power shall'' and all that 
                follows through the end of the subsection;
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``Whenever it is charged'' and 
                inserting ``Whenever it appears'';
                    (B) by striking ``or is engaging in'' and inserting 
                ``, is engaging in, or is about to engage in'';
                    (C) by striking ``the Board, or any agent'' and all 
                that follows through ``Provided, That no complaint 
                shall issue'' and inserting ``the aggrieved person may 
                bring a civil action for such relief (including an 
                injunction) as may be appropriate. Any such civil 
                action may be brought in the district court of the 
                United States where the violation occurred, or, at the 
                option of the parties, in the United States District 
                Court for the District of Columbia. No civil action may 
                be brought'';
                    (D) by striking ``charge with the Board'' and all 
                that follows through ``prevented from filing such 
                charge'' and inserting ``civil action, unless the 
                person aggrieved thereby was prevented from filing such 
                civil action''; and
                    (E) by striking ``Any such complaint may be 
                amended'' and all that follows through ``Any such 
                proceeding shall, so far as practicable,'' and 
                inserting ``Any proceeding under this subsection 
                shall'';
            (3) by striking subsections (c) through (k);
            (4) by redesignating subsections (l) and (m) as subsections 
        (c) and (d), respectively;
            (5) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) by striking ``Whenever it is charged'' and 
                inserting ``Whenever it is alleged'';
                    (B) in the first sentence, by striking ``charge'' 
                and inserting ``allegation''; and
                    (C) by striking ``such charge is true and that a 
                complaint should issue, he shall'' and all that follows 
                through the end of the subsection and inserting ``such 
                allegation is true, the officer or regional attorney 
                shall, on behalf of the Board, submit a written summary 
                of the findings to all parties involved in the alleged 
                unfair labor practice.''; and
            (6) in subsection (d) (as so redesignated)--
                    (A) by striking ``Whenever it is charged'' and 
                inserting ``Whenever it is alleged'';
                    (B) by striking ``such charge'' and inserting 
                ``such allegation''; and
                    (C) by striking ``and cases given priority under 
                subsection (i)''.
    (d) Conforming Amendments.--Such Act is amended--
            (1) in section 9 (29 U.S.C. 159)--
                    (A) in subsection (c)(2), by striking ``and in no 
                case shall the Board'' and all that follows through the 
                end of such subsection and inserting a period;
                    (B) by striking subsection (d); and
                    (C) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection 
                (d);
            (2) in section 3(b) (29 U.S.C. 153(b)), by striking ``or 
        (e) of section 9'' and inserting ``or (d) of section 9'';
            (3) in section 8 (29 U.S.C. 158), by striking ``9(e)'' each 
        place it appears and inserting ``9(d)''; and
            (4) in section 18 (29 U.S.C. 168), by striking ``section 10 
        (e) or (f)'' and inserting ``subsection (e) or (f) of section 
        10, as such subsections were in effect on the day before the 
        date of enactment of the Protecting American Jobs Act,''.

SEC. 3. REGULATIONS.

    Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the National Labor Relations Board shall review and revise all 
regulations promulgated before such date to implement the amendments 
made by this Act.