Older Workers’ Bureau Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7524

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Labor and Employment

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-02-12: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Last Updated

2026-04-03T08:05:49Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Older Workers' Bureau Act aims to support older workers (individuals aged 55 and older who are employed, seeking work, or recently sought work) by creating dedicated resources within the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). It focuses on promoting better job opportunities, safer workplaces, and financial security through research, policy advice, education, and funding programs. This addresses challenges like rising poverty rates among older adults, age discrimination, and barriers to re-employment, especially after events like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Provisions

• Establishment of the Older Workers' Bureau: Creates a new bureau within DOL, led by a Director appointed by the President within one year of enactment. The Director will oversee staff and operations, with the bureau required to be fully operational within one year.
• Bureau Functions: The bureau will conduct research on topics affecting older workers, including access to public benefits, family leave, job training (e.g., skills for communication, finances, and digital tools), retirement savings, age discrimination, wages, job security, and equitable treatment across groups (e.g., by race, gender, or disability). It will also develop policies, provide outreach and education, administer grants, coordinate federal research, and improve data access on older workers' economic conditions.
• Reporting and Consultation: The Director must submit an annual report to the DOL Secretary detailing bureau activities, federal programs for older workers, key issues, and recommendations. The bureau can consult with agencies like the Social Security Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and others.
• Research Grants: Within 180 days of becoming operational, the bureau will award competitive grants for studies to identify employment barriers for older workers and suggest federal policies to address them.
• Grants to Combat Structural Ageism: Also within 180 days, competitive grants will be awarded to organizations (e.g., employers, labor unions, nonprofits) to improve older workers' welfare, fight systemic biases against older people (structural ageism), enhance job opportunities, and promote inclusive workplaces. Priority goes to areas lacking targeted training for disadvantaged older workers.
• Funding: Authorizes $10 million annually starting after fiscal year 2027 for the grant programs.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a new dedicated bureau in DOL focused solely on older workers, which does not currently exist; this expands DOL's role beyond general workforce protections.
• Adds the Director position to the Executive Schedule (a federal pay scale under Title 5 of the U.S. Code), ensuring high-level compensation and status.
• Establishes new grant programs for research and anti-ageism initiatives, building on but separate from existing laws like the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), which prohibits age bias but lacks specific research or funding mechanisms for older workers.
• Requires coordination across federal agencies, potentially streamlining fragmented support for older adults that currently exists in programs like Social Security or Medicare.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: DOL gains a specialized unit, increasing administrative workload and requiring new staffing and facilities; it may foster better inter-agency collaboration (e.g., with EEOC on discrimination or HHS on health supports), but could strain budgets without full appropriations beyond the authorized grants.
• On Citizens: Older workers may benefit from targeted research, training, and anti-discrimination efforts, potentially leading to higher employment rates, better wages, reduced poverty (noted as rising to 15% under a broader poverty measure), and improved retirement security. Women and low-wage earners (e.g., over 35% of women 55+ earn $17.37/hour or less) could see particular gains from supports for caregiving and health needs. Younger workers and the broader economy might indirectly benefit from a more experienced, stable workforce.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill is domestic-focused on U.S. labor policies.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Older Workers (Aged 55+): Primary beneficiaries, including those in low-wage, gig, or temporary jobs, facing discrimination, or balancing health/caregiving.
• Employers and Businesses: Eligible for grants to create inclusive workplaces; may face incentives to adapt policies for older hires.
• Labor Organizations, Nonprofits, and Worker Groups: Can apply for grants to run programs combating ageism and supporting training.
• Federal Agencies: DOL leads implementation; others (e.g., EEOC, Social Security Administration) provide input and align programs.
• Policymakers and Researchers: Gain access to new data and reports to inform future laws on workforce aging.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Enhances enforcement of existing anti-discrimination laws (e.g., ADEA) by funding research into age bias impacts, without creating new enforceable rights. Grants must be administered competitively, ensuring fairness under federal procurement rules.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority to regulate commerce and promote general welfare (Article I, Section 8); no apparent conflicts with equal protection or due process, as it targets a demographic group without excluding others.
• Political: Responds to demographic shifts (e.g., older workers projected to make up nearly 40% of workforce growth over 10 years) and post-pandemic issues like workforce exits and unsafe conditions. It promotes equity across demographics (e.g., race, gender) but may spark debates on federal spending priorities amid aging population concerns, potentially influencing future labor and retirement policies.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]

Recent Actions

• 2026-02-12: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• 2026-02-12: Introduced in House
• 2026-02-12: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Older Workers’ Bureau Act — issued 2026-02-12 — PDF (12 pages)