STATEMENT BY SENATOR KENNEDY ON PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY SURVEY

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs has proposed to eliminate the Equal Opportunity Survey, which measures how well federal contractors are providing equal employment opportunity. Senators Kennedy, Harkin, Snowe, Chafee, and 24 other colleagues sent a letter today to the OFCCP opposing this proposal because it would undermine the enforcement of the nation’s civil rights laws, particularly laws requiring equal pay for women and minorities.Senator Kennedy issued the following statement in conjunction with the release of the letter: “The federal government should always be the leader in promoting fair treatment of workers. At a time when women and minorities are still paid far less than their white male counterparts, we must see that federal contractors are not using taxpayer dollars to discriminate. The Equal Opportunity Survey provides vital data in this battle for equal opportunity, and it’s important to maintain this valuable survey.” ###