[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 19985]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIONAL EMPLOY OLDER WORKERS WEEK

  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize National Employ 
Older Workers Week, a time to celebrate the many older workers who are 
redefining retirement and the employers that welcome their talents.
  Many older Americans do not see retirement as just a period of 
leisure; they continue to contribute to our nation's businesses, 
communities, and economy. And some employers, facing a shortage of 
skilled and experienced workers, have recognized the value of older 
workers by changing their policies to attract and retain them.
  One of those employers is Mercy Health System, which is based in 
Wisconsin and has 63 health care facilities across Wisconsin and 
Illinois. AARP recently ranked Mercy Health System the top employer for 
older workers in the country. Mercy Health System attracts and retains 
older workers by providing flexible work options, like its Work-to-
Retire Program, which offers reduced and seasonal work schedules while 
maintaining health benefits.
  Yet too few employers have followed Mercy Health System's lead in 
creating better work options for older Americans. While most older 
workers want to work past traditional retirement age, many do not want 
to work a traditional full-time schedule. Today, only about one-third 
of older workers have flexible work schedules. Even when employers 
offer flexible work options like part-time work schedules, most do not 
also offer benefits: only 22 percent of part-time workers have access 
to health benefits.
  So while older workers and some employers have begun to reinvent 
retirement, we have a long way to go. That is why I authored the Older 
Worker Opportunity Act, which aims to expand opportunities for older 
Americans to work longer if they so choose. The centerpiece of this 
legislation is a tax credit for employers that offer flexible, reduced, 
or seasonal work schedules to older workers while maintaining their 
health and pension benefits. Such a credit would reward employers like 
Mercy Health System who are doing the right thing, while encouraging 
other employers to follow their lead. Greater workplace flexibility 
would not only benefit older Americans, but would also reduce employer 
costs by increasing productivity and job retention.
  Just this week, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security 
and Medicare endorsed the Older Worker Opportunity Act. In its letter 
of support, president and CEO Barbara Kennelly offered that the bill 
``could help pave the way for significant increases in older worker 
employment.'' I agree, and I am proud to have them join our other 
supporters, including the National Council on Aging, the National Older 
Worker Career Center, Watson Wyatt Worldwide, the Committee for 
Economic Development, the Association of Jewish Family and Children's 
Agencies, and United Jewish Communities. With their backing, this bill 
will continue to gain steam.
  During National Employ Older Workers Week, we also celebrate the 
Senior Community Service Employment Program--SCSEP--which has provided 
community service and job training to low-income seniors for 40 years. 
As our baby boomers age and seniors become a growing share of the 
population, we must strengthen SCSEP so that all eligible seniors get 
the help they need. Many of us were concerned when the Administration 
proposed a major overhaul of this program, which would have been 
disruptive to both grantees and participants. I am hopeful that the 
Older Americans Act reauthorization bill will preserve the basic 
structure of the program and build on its success.
  I urge Congress to pass the OAA reauthorization as soon as possible 
so that seniors in need of SCSEP services have the tools to stay active 
in the workforce and their communities. But beyond reauthorization, we 
must also boost SCSEP's funding, which is currently only enough to 
serve less than one percent of the eligible population. As a member of 
the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to press for additional 
funding so that all older Americans who want or need to work longer 
have the opportunity to do so.
  As older Americans live longer and healthier lives, most have the 
ability and desire to remain active. Some want to maintain physical and 
mental health, some need to improve their financial security, and some 
want to continue to contribute to society. Whatever the reason, it's 
time to change the way we think about retirement. Older Americans are a 
valuable asset to our nation's businesses, communities, and economy, 
and we must tap their reservoir of experience and talents. Our seniors 
deserve it, and our economic future may well depend on it.

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