Older Workers’ Bureau Act

Older Workers Bureau at Labor

If enacted, the Department of Labor would create an Older Workers Bureau. The President would name a Director within one year and the Bureau would be operational within one year. Staff pay would follow federal pay laws, and the Secretary would provide offices, furniture, and equipment. The Bureau would research benefits, FMLA access, workplace flexibility, training, savings and retirement access, age discrimination, wages, job security, retirement readiness, and equity for older workers, with attention to workers earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Within 180 days after opening, the Bureau would run two competitive grant programs: one for research on employment barriers and one to combat structural ageism and improve employment, with priority to groups in areas lacking targeted training for disadvantaged older workers. Eligible grantees would include employers, employer associations, labor organizations, nonprofits with older-worker expertise, and worker organizations. Congress would be authorized to appropriate $10 million each year after fiscal year 2027 for those grants. The Director would send an annual report to the Secretary cataloging programs, issues, and recommendations, and could consult agencies like SSA, HHS, EEOC, VA, Treasury, and HUD.