Issue Position: Preventing Discrimination in the Workplace

Issue Position

Senator Harkin believes that we must continue to defend civil rights protections in the workplaces.

Harkin introduced legislation called the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act that restores vital civil rights protections for older workers in the face of the Supreme Court's decision in Gross v. FBL Financial Services. In the decision, the Supreme Court rewrote civil rights laws, overturning well-established precedent and making it harder for workers facing age discrimination to enforce their rights.

He also believes no person should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and supports passage of The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

Senator Harkin also believes in equal pay for equal work. He has supported efforts to pass The Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation that would strengthen penalties for discrimination and give women the tools they need to identify and confront unfair treatment. He has also introduced his own measure, The Fair Pay Act, to ensure that employers provide equal pay for jobs that are equivalent in skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions.

As part of his ongoing efforts to uphold the intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Senator Harkin continues to work to ensure workplace protections for individuals with disabilities.

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