[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E46]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          PROTECTING OLDER WORKERS AGAINST DISCRIMINATION ACT

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                               speech of

                            HON. JOHN KATKO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 15, 2020

  Mr. KATKO. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 1230, the Protecting 
Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. This bipartisan and 
commonsense legislation will level the playing field for older workers 
in Central New York and across the country by restoring the ability to 
combat age discrimination in the workplace.
  Speaking with Central New Yorkers, I have heard from many older 
workers who have expressed concern over the prevalence of ageism in the 
workplace. My constituents are not alone either. According to a recent 
AARP report, 3 in 5 older workers have experienced age discrimination 
in the workplace. Despite this statistic, the recent 2009 Supreme 
Court's decision in Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc., has weakened 
federal protections against age discrimination, making it more 
difficult for older Americans to prove age discrimination and rectify 
these instances. For this reason, I am proud to support the Protecting 
Older Workers Against Discrimination Act. Under this bipartisan 
legislation, we will take the necessary steps to protect older workers 
against age discrimination in the workplace by restoring the pre-2009 
legal standards for age discrimination claims.
  Mr. Chair, age should never be a factor in employment decisions. 
Whether an older worker is forced out of a job or receiving lower pay 
due to age, older workers in Central New York and in the United States 
must be protected from age discrimination in the workplace. Troubling 
statistics published by AARP make it clear that age discrimination in 
the workplace is an issue that must be addressed by Congress. I urge my 
colleagues in the House to act in a bipartisan manner to protect older 
workers against age discrimination by supporting the Protecting Older 
Workers Against Discrimination Act.

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