Lois Frankel: “I thank the gentleman from Virginia and my colleagues for their work on this bill. Mr. Chair, Ben Franklin signed the…”

“I thank the gentleman from Virginia and my colleagues for their work on this bill. Mr. Chair, Ben Franklin signed the Declaration of Independence at age 70. Grandma Moses started painting at age 76. We should never, ever put an age limit on our dreams or the ability to make a living. But here is the thing, Mr. Chair: You can be a dedicated employee, having spent decades building a career that you are proud of, taking care of your family, putting your kids through college, saving for your future. You need and want to work and, one day, when you are ready, retire with dignity. But then, out of nowhere, your life is shattered. Your bosses say: ``You are fired.'' They list their reasons. However, you know the truth. You have been let go to make way for a younger employee. Now you are without a salary, without your health insurance. You know your odds of getting a new job are slim when you are competing with 20-year-olds and 30-year- olds who are willing to work for lower wages and fewer benefits. For too many seniors, Mr. Chair, this is a reality. Nearly three in five workers have experienced age-based discrimination, not only unfairly depriving the worker of a paycheck but taking valuable workers out of the workforce. Now, a Supreme Court decision has made it even harder to prove age discrimination. Mr. Chair, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act would give senior workers the protection they deserve and society the workers that we need.…”