Buchanan, Joyce support House passage of bipartisan anti-age discrimination bill

U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Dave Joyce (R-OH) on Jan. 15 voted to approve a bipartisan bill that aims to protect older American workers from age discrimination in the workplace.

“Discriminating against older workers cannot be tolerated in any form,” Rep. Buchanan said. “Older Americans contribute so much to our economy with their experience, skills and strong work ethic.”  

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 261-155 to advance the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act, H.R. 1230. The legislation would amend the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to establish an unlawful employment practice when the complaining party demonstrates that age or participation in investigations, proceedings or litigation was a motivating factor for any unlawful employment practice, even though other factors also motivated the practice, according to the congressional record summary.

“Any form of employment discrimination not only hurts the hardworking families of our local communities, but also our nation’s economy,” said Rep. Joyce. “That’s why I was proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in ensuring our older constituents have a level playing field when it comes to battling age discrimination in the workplace.”

The nation’s leading senior advocacy group, the AARP, praised both representatives for voting to pass the bill. 

“Older workers are a valuable asset to their employees and the economy, yet more than 6 in 10 report seeing or experiencing age discrimination on the job,” added Bill Sweeney, AARP senior vice president of government affairs. 

If enacted, the bill would restore anti-discrimination protections under the law that many lawmakers think were weakened by a 2009 U.S. Supreme Court decision that said age had to be the sole cause for the action against the older worker. H.R. 1230 would permit older workers to sue for age discrimination even if age was not the sole cause of the challenged employment decision, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers. 

The U.S. Senate on Jan. 16 received H.R. 1230 for consideration.