HR7524-119

What This Bill Does

This bill establishes an Older Workers' Bureau in the Department of Labor. Congress cites the growth of the 55-plus workforce, older-adult poverty, low wages for older women, age-discrimination concerns, involuntary part-time or gig work, COVID-era labor-force exits, and caregiving-related exits. The Bureau would be led by a presidentially appointed Director, staffed by the Labor Secretary, and tasked with research, policy development, outreach, education, grant administration, federal research coordination, and better data on older workers. It must report annually on Bureau activities, federal programs supporting older workers, issues that need federal support, and recommendations.

Who Benefits and How

Workers age 55 and older benefit because the Bureau would focus federal attention on job retention, reemployment, age discrimination, FMLA access, workplace flexibility, retirement readiness, wages, digital literacy, and safety-net access. Researchers, employers, labor organizations, nonprofits, and worker organizations can receive competitive grants to study barriers and combat structural ageism.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Department of Labor must establish the Bureau within 1 year, appoint or support a Director, provide staff, quarters, furniture, and equipment, consult agencies such as SSA, HHS, EEOC, VA, Treasury, IRS, and HUD, run research grants within 180 days after the Bureau is operational, run structural-ageism grants, and administer $10 million per year authorized after fiscal year 2027.

Key Provisions

• Creates an Older Workers' Bureau within the Department of Labor and requires a presidentially appointed Director within 1 year.
• Requires the Bureau to research public benefits, FMLA access, workplace flexibility, job training, savings, age discrimination, wages, job security, retirement readiness, and equitable treatment of older workers.
• Directs annual reports cataloging federal programs, issues needing support, and recommendations to improve older-worker welfare, working conditions, and employment opportunities.
• Authorizes competitive research grants to identify barriers to employment, retention, and reemployment for older workers.
• Authorizes grants to employers, labor organizations, nonprofits, worker organizations, and similar institutions to combat structural ageism and improve older-worker employment.
• Appropriates authorization of $10 million for each fiscal year after fiscal year 2027 for the research and structural-ageism grant programs.