On the recordJanuary 15, 2020
Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his exceptional leadership in bringing this bill to the floor. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. Age is just a number. We hear that all the time, and there is so much truth to it. Yet, each year, too many Americans over the age of 40 face discrimination at the office. In fact, AARP reports that over half of older workers have seen or experienced age discrimination. Congress outlawed workplace discrimination against older Americans over 50 years ago in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. However, due to a misguided 2009 Supreme Court ruling, older Americans still face negative employment actions. As the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission acknowledged in 2018, ``Age discrimination remains a significant and costly problem for workers, their families, and our economy.'' This is simply unacceptable, and it is wrong. Employees over the age of 40 bring talent, experience, and wisdom to an office. Additionally, these workers are more likely to stay at their companies. On average, Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 stick with their employers three times as long as employees aged 25 to 34. Even more disheartening is the effect age discrimination has on disabled workers. Mr. Chairman, I include in the Record a letter from the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities in support of the bill. Consortium for Citizens With Disabilities, Jan. 15, 2020.…





