Alexander: Trump EEOC General Counsel Nominee Can Improve Agency after “Embarrassing Losses, Rebukes” Under Previous General Counsel

WASHINGTON, April 10, 2018 — Senate labor committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today said that the “Equal Employment Opportunity Commission General Counsel is important to our nation’s workers.”

The committee today held a hearing on Sharon Fast Gustafson to serve as General Counsel of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

“If confirmed, Ms. Gustafson will be in charge of ensuring compliance with well-established anti-discrimination statutes, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act,” said Alexander. “When a worker believes they have been discriminated against, they may file a charge of discrimination with the EEOC. If the charge is not resolved, the Commission may decide to file a lawsuit in federal court. Through a delegation of power from the Commission to the General Counsel, Ms. Gustafson will have broad authority to bring these cases to court.”

Alexander continued: “Unfortunately, the last General Counsel, appointed by President Obama, made poor decisions in pursuing cases and suffered embarrassing losses in the courts as a result. I hope Ms. Gustafson will do a better job overseeing the EEOC’s litigation and we don’t see these types of rebukes under her leadership. Her impressive qualifications lead me to believe she will do a better job.”

Read Alexander’s full prepared remarks here.

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