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HR 5514

POJA Act of 2025

119th Congress Introduced by Alma Adams and 23 co-sponsors

The POJA Act of 2025 protects older job applicants from age discrimination, ensuring equal employment opportunities and requiring studies on discrimination claims.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 5514

Summary of HR 5514: POJA Act of 2025

Overview

The Protect Older Job Applicants Act of 2025 (POJA Act of 2025), introduced as HR 5514, aims to amend the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) to enhance protections against age discrimination in the hiring process. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on September 19, 2025, by Ms. Sylvia R. Garcia of Texas, along with a diverse group of cosponsors.

Purpose and Intent

The primary goal of the POJA Act is to prevent employers from engaging in discriminatory practices that limit, segregate, or classify job applicants based on age. This legislation seeks to ensure that older individuals have equal access to employment opportunities without facing bias due to their age.

Key Provisions

The bill proposes the following significant changes to the ADEA:

  1. Expansion of Protections:

    • The amendment will explicitly prohibit employers from limiting, segregating, or classifying applicants for employment based on age.
    • The language of the ADEA will be updated to include protections for applicants for employment, not just current employees.

  2. Study Requirement:

    • Within one year of the bill's enactment, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is mandated to conduct a study on age discrimination claims filed since 2015.
    • The study will assess the impact of age discrimination on job applicants and will include recommendations for best practices to combat such discrimination.
    • The findings will be reported to the House Committee on Education and Labor and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and will also be made publicly available.

Impact

The POJA Act of 2025 is expected to have a broad impact on:

  • Job Applicants: Older individuals seeking employment will benefit from enhanced protections against age-related discrimination, potentially increasing their chances of securing jobs.
  • Employers: Businesses will need to review and possibly revise their hiring practices to comply with the new regulations, ensuring that they do not engage in discriminatory classification of applicants based on age.
  • EEOC: The commission will be tasked with studying and reporting on age discrimination, which may lead to increased awareness and further legislative or regulatory actions in the future.

Legislative Process

  • Introduced: September 19, 2025
  • Referred to Committee: The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce for further consideration.

Sponsors and Cosponsors

The bill is sponsored by Ms. Sylvia R. Garcia and has a diverse group of 17 cosponsors, including notable representatives such as Mr. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, Ms. Rashida Tlaib, and Mr. Adriano Espaillat.

This summary provides a clear understanding of the POJA Act of 2025, its objectives, key provisions, and potential implications for both job applicants and employers.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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