COLPA Hails Decision to Give EEO Commission Enforcement Powers

The National Jewish Commission on Law and Public Affairs (COLPA) hailed today the action of the House Education and Labor Committee in approving a bill to give the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforcement powers in administering sections of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The measure also would extend the jurisdiction of the EEOC to cover employment practices of federal, state and local government agencies, as well as federal contractors and subcontractors. Julius Berman, COLPA president, said that COLPA had submitted testimony during committee hearings on the bill in support of the expansion of the powers and jurisdiction of the EEOC. He said that the "granting of substantive powers to the EEOC and the extension of its jurisdiction will be a truly significant step forward in providing protection for Sabbath observers and members of other minority groups in this country." Berman observed that the EEOC had "shown great sensitivity to the problems of discrimination and has displayed a willingness to enforce actively the civil rights act to secure equal employment opportunities for all Americans." He said it was "paradoxical" that the EEOC was created to administer the equal employment provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 but was not given enforcement powers nor jurisdiction over governmental practices." He expressed COLPA’s hope that the measure would be approved by the full House and the Senate.