The House Education and Labor Committee’s approval of the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA) in June was lauded by AARP as a key step toward enactment.
“The vote puts us one step closer to restoring fairness for older workers who experience age discrimination,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer. “The legislation makes Congress’ intent clear that discrimination in the workplace—against older workers or others—is never acceptable.”
The action represents the first Congressional committee vote on the POWADA legislation. The bill now advances to the full House of Representatives for consideration.
POWADA was first introduced, with strong AARP backing, after a 2009 Supreme Court decision (Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc.) that made it harder for older workers to prove claims of illegal bias based on age.
AARP said POWADA would restore fairness for older workers by treating age discrimination just as seriously as other forms of workplace discrimination. It would restore longstanding protections under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA).
AARP research has found that more than three in five older workers report that they have experienced or seen age bias in the workplace.
The Education and Labor Committee vote follows a Committee hearing on May 21st that considered POWADA as part of deliberations titled “Eliminating Barriers to Employment: Opening Doors to Opportunity.”
AARP Foundation Senior Attorney Laurie McCann, testifying on behalf of AARP, called on Congress “to enact POWADA immediately.”
