H.R. 2062 · 117th Congress · House

Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2021

In Congress· Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Introduced
Mar 18, 21
Passed House
Jun 23, 21
Passed Senate
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2021

This bill revises the evidentiary standard for age discrimination by establishing an unlawful employment practice when the complaining party demonstrates that age or participation in an investigation, proceeding, or litigation related to an age discrimination claim was a motivating factor for an adverse practice, even though other factors also motivated the practice (thereby allowing what are commonly known as mixed motive claims).

The bill (1) permits the complaining party to rely on any type or form of admissible evidence, which need only be sufficient for a reasonable trier of fact to find that an unlawful practice occurred; and (2) declares that the complaining party shall not be required to demonstrate that age or retaliation was the sole cause of the employment practice (thereby rejecting the Supreme Court's decision in Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc., which requires the complainant to prove that age was the but-for cause for the employer's decision).

The bill applies this evidentiary standard to other employment discrimination and retaliation claims, including claims under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

In a claim in which age discrimination is shown, but where the employer demonstrates that it would have taken the same action absent the motivating factor of age, the bill authorizes courts to grant declaratory and injunctive relief, but prohibits the court from awarding damages or issuing an order requiring any admission, reinstatement, hiring, promotion, or payment. This limitation also applies to claims of discrimination based on disability.

The bill also includes reporting requirements for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labor.

Previous Versions

07Jun 17, 2021

Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2021

This bill revises the evidentiary standard for age discrimination by establishing an unlawful employment practice when the complaining party demonstrates that age or participation in an investigation, proceeding, or litigation related to an age discrimination claim was a motivating factor for an adverse practice, even though other factors also motivated the practice (thereby allowing what are commonly known as mixed motive claims).

The bill (1) permits the complaining party to rely on any type or form of admissible evidence, which need only be sufficient for a reasonable trier of fact to find that an unlawful practice occurred; and (2) declares that the complaining party shall not be required to demonstrate that age or retaliation was the sole cause of the employment practice (thereby rejecting the Supreme Court's decision in Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc., which requires the complainant to prove that age was the but-for cause for the employer's decision).

The bill applies this evidentiary standard to other employment discrimination and retaliation claims, including claims under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

In a claim in which age discrimination is shown, but where the employer demonstrates that it would have taken the same action absent the motivating factor of age, the bill authorizes courts to grant declaratory and injunctive relief, but prohibits the court from awarding damages or issuing an order requiring any admission, reinstatement, hiring, promotion, or payment. This limitation also applies to claims of discrimination based on disability.

00Mar 18, 2021

Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act

This bill revises the evidentiary standard for age discrimination by establishing an unlawful employment practice when the complaining party demonstrates that age or participation in an investigation, proceeding, or litigation related to an age discrimination claim was a motivating factor for an adverse practice, even though other factors also motivated the practice (thereby allowing what are commonly known as mixed motive claims).

The bill (1) permits the complaining party to rely on any type or form of admissible evidence, which need only be sufficient for a reasonable trier of fact to find that an unlawful practice occurred; and (2) declares that the complaining party shall not be required to demonstrate that age or retaliation was the sole cause of the employment practice (thereby rejecting the Supreme Court's decision in Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc., which requires the complainant to prove that age was the but-for cause for the employer's decision).

The bill applies this evidentiary standard to other employment discrimination and retaliation claims, including claims under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

In a claim in which age discrimination is shown, but where the employer demonstrates that it would have taken the same action absent the motivating factor of age, the bill authorizes courts to grant declaratory and injunctive relief, but prohibits the court from awarding damages or issuing an order requiring any admission, reinstatement, hiring, promotion, or payment. This limitation also applies to claims of discrimination based on disability.

Action Timeline

25
  1. JUN 24, 2021IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

  2. JUN 23, 2021Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 486. (consideration

    CR H3052-3067; text: CR H3052-3053)

    3052Yea
    3067Nay
    0NV
  3. JUN 23, 2021Floor

    The resolution provides for 1 hour of debate, orders the previous question, and allows a motion to recommit for each measure. Provides that H. Res. 485 is adopted. Provides that anytime through the legislative day of June 25, 2021, the Speaker may entertain motions offered by the Majority Leader or his designee that the House suspend the rules with respect to multiple measures that were the object of motions to suspend the rules on the legislative days of June 22 or 23, and on which the yeas and nays were ordered and further proceedings postponed.

  4. JUN 23, 2021Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 2062.

  5. JUN 23, 2021Floor

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H

    Res 486, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment en bloc No. 1.

  6. JUN 23, 2021Floor

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment en bloc No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Foxx demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

  7. JUN 23, 2021Floor

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H

    Res 486, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment en bloc No. 2.

  8. JUN 23, 2021Floor

    POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment en bloc No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Foxx demanded the yeas and nays an d the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

  9. JUN 23, 2021Floor

    DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H

    Res 486, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Davis (IL) amendment.

  10. JUN 23, 2021Floor

    UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on the Scott amendment en bloc No. 1 which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

  11. JUN 23, 2021Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table

    Agreed to without objection.

  12. JUN 23, 2021Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table

    Agreed to without objection.

  13. JUN 23, 2021Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  14. JUN 23, 2021Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House

    Roll Call #180

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 247 - 178 (Roll no. 180).

    247Yea
    178Nay
    0NV
  15. JUN 23, 2021Floor

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #180

    247 - 178 (Roll no. 180).

    247Yea
    178Nay
    0NV
  16. JUN 23, 2021Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  17. JUN 22, 2021Floor

    Rules Committee Resolution H

    Res. 486 Reported to House. The resolution provides for 1 hour of debate, orders the previous question, and allows a motion to recommit for each measure. Provides that H. Res. 485 is adopted. Provides that anytime through the legislative day of June 25, 2021, the Speaker may entertain motions offered by the Majority Leader or his designee that the House suspend the rules with respect to multiple measures that were the object of motions to suspend the rules on the legislative days of June 22 or 23, and on which the yeas and nays were ordered and further proceedings postponed.

  18. JUN 17, 2021Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 117-63.

    117Yea
    63Nay
    0NV
  19. JUN 17, 2021Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 117-63.

    117Yea
    63Nay
    0NV
  20. JUN 17, 2021Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 44.

  21. MAY 26, 2021Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  22. MAY 26, 2021Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 29 - 18.

    29Yea
    18Nay
    0NV
  23. MAR 18, 2021IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  24. MAR 18, 2021IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  25. MAR 18, 2021IntroReferral

    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Committees

4

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

sshr00

Referred: Jun 24, 2021

Active

Education and Workforce Committee

hsed00

Referred: Jun 17, 2021

Active

Education and Workforce Committee

hsed00

Referred: May 26, 2021

Active

Education and Workforce Committee

hsed00

Referred: Mar 18, 2021

Active