COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR NINETY-FOURTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON H.R. 2588 A BILL TO TERMINATE AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT HEARING HELD IN WASHINGTON, D.C., FEBRUARY 9, 1976 66-970 PART 1 Printed for the use of the Committee on Education and Labor CARL D. PERKINS, Chairman U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1976 COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR CARL D. PERKINS, Kentucky, Chairman FRANK THOMPSON, JR., New Jersey PAUL SIMON, Illinois EDWARD BEARD, Rhode Island RONALD MOTTL, Ohio TIM HALL, Illinois ALBERT H. QUIE, Minnesota EDWIN D. ESHLEMAN, Pennsylvania SUBCOMMITTEE ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AUGUSTUS F. HAWKINS, California, Chairman JOHN BUCHANAN, Alabama ALBERT H. QUIE, Minnesota, Ex Officio WILLIAM "BILL" CLAY, Missouri JAIME BENITEZ, Puerto Rico (II) CONTENTS 30% Page Hearing held in Washington, D.C., February 9, 1976-- Statement of: Findley, Hon. Paul, a Representative in Congress from the State of James, Ronald J., administrator, Wage and Hour Division, Employ- Langley, Ralph, chairman of the board, Greater San Antonio Cham- Martin, John B., legislative consultant, National Retired Teachers Prepared statements, letters, supplemental material, etc.: Alferieff, Mrs. Lubov, Chappaqua, N.Y., letter to Hon. John H. Dent, 51 Annunzio, Hon. Frank, a Representative in Congress from the State 18 Findley, Hon. Paul, a Representative in Congress from the State of James, Ronald J., administrator, Wage and Hour Division, Employ- Langley, Ralph, chairman of the board, Greater San Antonio Cham- (TT) AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT Part 1 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1976 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 10:15 a.m., pursuant to notice, in room 2261, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Augustus Hawkins (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Members present: Representatives Hawkins and Buchanan. Staff present: Susan D. Grayson, staff director; Frances Hardin, research assistant; Richard Mosse, assistant minority counsel; and, Carole Schanzer, clerk. [Text of H.R. 2588 follows:] [H.R. 258S, 94th Cong., 1st sess.] A BILL To terminate age discrimination in employment Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 12 of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 is amended by striking everything after the word "age" and inserting a period. Mr. HAWKINS. The Subcommittee on Equal Opportunities of the Education and Labor Committee is called to order. The subject matter of the hearing this morning is age discrimination in employment. The Chair would like to make this brief opening statement. In 1967 Congress passed the Age Discrimination in Employment Act which prohibited such discrimination against workers between the ages of 40 and 65. Since the passage of the act, many employers have found to their surprise and delight-and contrary to their expectations that in relation to younger workers, older workers tend to be more stable and dependable, that they have comparable production rates, and that they are apt to be ill or disabled less frequently. Our hearing today will open discussion on the proposed amendments which would expand the coverage of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act to persons over the age of 65. The practical effect of such an amendment would be to abolish mandatory retirement at age 65. This is an important issue with significant implications for our Nation's use of its human resources. The employment problems of the elderly have long been of concern to the subcommittee. Currently, we have before us the Equal Opportunity and Full Employment Act which addresses itself to the problems of the unemployed, including the elderly. (1) |