A joint resolution authorizing and requesting the President to designate the second full week in March 1984 as "National Employ the Older Worker Week".
PL 98-234 (S.J.Res.205), enacted 03/16/1984

PUBLIC LAW 98-234—MAR. 16, 1984 
98 STAT. 63 
Public Law 98-234 
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98th Congress 
Joint Resolution 
Authorizing and requesting the President to designate the second full week in March 
Mar. 16, 1984 
1984 as "National Employ the Older Worker Week". 
[S.J. Res. 205] 
Whereas individuals aged fifty-five and over are a major national 
resource, constitute 22 per centum of the population of the United 
States at the present time, and are likely to 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, or would like to serve their communities 
and their Nation in voluntary roles; 
Whereas such individuals, who have made continuing contributions 
to the national welfare, should be encouraged to remain in, or 
resume, career and voluntary roles that utilize their strengths, 
wisdom, and skills; 
Whereas career opportunities reaffirm the dignity, self-worth, and 
independence of older individuals by encouraging them to make 
decisions and to act upon those decisions, by tapping their re-
sources, experience, and knowledge, and by enabling them to 
contribute to society; 
Whereas the operation of title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965 42 use 3041. 
has demonstrated that older workers are extremely capable in a 
wide variety of job roles; 
Whereas recent studies conducted by the United States Department 
of Labor and the Work in America Institute indicate that, in 
many cases, employers prefer to retain older workers or rehire 
former older employees due to the high quality of their job 
performance and their low rate of absenteeism; and 
Whereas the American Legion has sponsored a "National Employ 
the 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 second full week in March 
1984 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, with a view toward 
expanding career and employment opportunities for older work-
ers 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 serv-
ice programs which they sponsor with a view toward expanding 
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 
98 STAT. 64 
PUBLIC LAW 98-234—MAR. 16, 1984 
29 use 1501 
under the Jobs Training and Partnership Act, job counseling 
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through the United States Employment Service, and additional 
support through its Older Worker program, as authorized by 
42 use 3041. 
title V of the Older Americans Act; and 
(4) the citizens of the United States to observe this day with 
appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. 
Approved March 16, 1984. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 205: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 130 (1984): 
Feb. 27, considered and passed Senate. 
Mar. 14, considered and passed House.