H.R. 7524 — Older Workers’ Bureau Act

This section states congressional findings on challenges facing older workers, including projected workforce additions of 5.35 million over the next 10 years (with 2.07 million over age 55), growth in their labor force share to over 23% (from 16% in 2004), a Supplemental Poverty Measure rate of 15% in 2024 (from 9.5% during the COVID-19 pandemic), and high concern over age discrimination at 64%. The section declares the purpose of the Act to promote productive employment opportunities and workplaces for older workers through research, policy development, outreach, and grant programs.

This section defines terms for purposes of the Act: (1) "Bureau," meaning the Older Workers’ Bureau established under section 4(a); (2) "Director," meaning the Director of the Older Workers’ Bureau; (3) "older worker," meaning an individual who is not younger than 55 years of age and (a) is employed, (b) is seeking employment, or (c) wants employment, is available for employment, and has sought employment within the preceding 12 months; and (4) "Secretary," meaning the Secretary of Labor.

This section establishes in the Department of Labor the Older Workers’ Bureau, headed by a Director appointed by the President not later than one year after enactment and added to Executive Schedule Level IV (5 U.S.C. 5315). The bureau promotes the welfare, working conditions, and employment opportunities of older workers through research on topics including public benefits, workplace flexibility, job training, age discrimination, wages, job security, and retirement readiness; policy development; outreach and education; grant program administration; coordination of federal research; and improved data access. The Secretary of Labor must provide staff, quarters, and equipment; ensure the bureau is operational within one year; and receive annual reports cataloging federal programs, identifying issues, and making recommendations for older workers. The bureau may consult with specified agencies (e.g., Social Security Administration, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission).

This section directs the Secretary, acting through the Director, to carry out a competitive grant program not later than 180 days after the Bureau is operational to fund research on older workers. The research must (1) identify areas needing additional study to eliminate barriers to their employment, job retention, and reemployment and to develop federal policies to assist them; and (2) examine those areas as determined appropriate by the Secretary.

This section establishes a competitive grant program, to be carried out by the Secretary acting through the Director not later than 180 days after the Bureau is operational, to award grants to covered institutions (i.e., employers, employer associations, labor organizations, nonprofits with expertise in older workers, worker organizations, or other institutions determined appropriate by the Secretary) for (1) facilitating activities, services, and programs to improve the welfare of older workers; (2) combating structural ageism; (3) improving employment opportunities for older workers; and (4) creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace. In awarding grants, priority is given to covered institutions located in areas lacking training programs specifically targeted to disadvantaged older workers.