Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 99 Part 1.djvu/47

 PUBLIC LAW 99-9—APR. 3, 1985

99 STAT. 25

Public Law 99-9 99th Congress Joint Resolution Authorizing and requesting the President to designate the week of March 10 through 16, 1985, as "National Employ-the-Older-Worker Week".

Apr. 3, 1985 [H.J. Res. 134]

Whereas individuals aged fifty-five and over are a major national resource, constitute 21 percent of the population of the United States and will constitute a larger percentage of the population in future decades; Whereas a growing number of such individuals, being willing and able to work, are looking for employment opportunities, want to remain in the work force, and would like to serve their communities and their Nation in productive roles; Whereas such individuals have made continuing contributions to the national welfare and should be encouraged to remain in, or resume, career and voluntary roles that utilize their strengths, wisdom, and skills; Whereas employers who retain older workers or rehire older former employees report that such workers and employees exhibit greater company loyalty, high levels of job performance, and low rates of absenteeism; and Whereas the American Legion has sponsored a "National Employthe-Older-Worker Week" during the second full week of March in every year since 1959, focusing public attention on the advantages of employing older individuals: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President is authorized and requested to designate the week of March 10 through 16, 1985, as "National Employ-the-Older-Worker Week", and to issue a proclamation calling upon— (1) the employers and labor unions of the United States to give special consideration to older workers, and to expand career and employment opportunities for older workers who are willing and able to work and who desire to remain employed or to reenter the work force; (2) voluntary organizations to reexamine the many fine service programs which they sponsor and to expand both the number of older volunteers and the types of service roles open to older workers; (3) the United States Department of Labor to give special assistance to older workers by means of job training programs under the Jobs Training and Partnership Act, job counseling 29 USC 1501 note.

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