WASHINGTON, DC  — Following is a statement from Nancy LeaMond, Executive Vice President of AARP’s Community, State and National Group, on the Administration’s release of new rules to improve compliance with worker protections by companies that bid on federal contracts:

“The American people deserve to be assured that their federal tax dollars are not being used to subsidize companies that violate the employment rights of workers, and that law-abiding employers are not placed at a competitive disadvantage. The regulations promulgated today, which will implement President Obama’s Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order, strengthen the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws like the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

“As more older workers delay retirement because they want to continue working or, increasingly, because they cannot afford to retire, preserving equal employment opportunity is vitally important. Nevertheless, age discrimination in the workplace persists as a serious and pervasive problem. The Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order is the first executive order since 1964 addressing the obligation of those who receive federal contracts not to discriminate on the basis of age.

“The Order and the regulations do not impose new obligations on federal contractors -- the civil rights laws already apply to private companies, including those that do business with the federal government. Today’s rules simply build on the existing system by requiring those who want to bid on taxpayer-financed projects to report on their compliance with worker protection laws, and if violations are reported, to come into compliance.

“By ensuring companies comply with workplace laws before they receive federal contracts, today’s regulations promote accountability and help protect the more than one in five Americans who are employed by companies that do business with the federal government. AARP looks forward to reviewing the final rules and to working with the Administration to implement these important safeguards.”   

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About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. With staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial security and personal fulfillment. AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world’s largest circulation magazine, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @aarp and our CEO @JoAnn_Jenkins on Twitter.

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