James A. Newman, Jr., Complainant,v.Toby Rosenblatt, Chairman, The Presidio Trust, Agency.

Equal Employment Opportunity CommissionMar 18, 2003
01A24736 (E.E.O.C. Mar. 18, 2003)

01A24736

03-18-2003

James A. Newman, Jr., Complainant, v. Toby Rosenblatt, Chairman, The Presidio Trust, Agency.


James A. Newman, Jr. v. The Presidio Trust

01A24736

03-18-03

.

James A. Newman, Jr.,

Complainant,

v.

Toby Rosenblatt,

Chairman,

The Presidio Trust,

Agency.

Appeal No. 01A24736

Agency No. 0201-JN01

DECISION

INTRODUCTION

Complainant timely filed an appeal with this Commission from the final

agency decision. This case pertains to his complaint of unlawful

employment discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights

Act of 1964 (Title VII), as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq. and

the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), as amended,

29 U.S.C. � 621 et seq.

ISSUES PRESENTED

The issues presented herein are:

Whether the Presidio Trust (hereinafter �the Presidio Trust� or �the

Trust�) is a private sector employer or executive agency of the federal

government within the meaning of Title VII, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq.,

and the ADEA, 29 U.S.C. � 621 et seq., and as such, is within the

coverage of the Acts and the jurisdiction of the EEOC; and

Whether the agency properly dismissed complainant's formal EEO complaint

for failure to seek EEO counseling in a timely manner.

BACKGROUND

Complainant, a Plumber Work Leader, worked at the Presidio Trust in San

Francisco, California (the facility). Complainant has been employed with

the government for over twenty-eight (28) years. The record reflects

that, after discovering that a Caucasian employee had been promoted to the

Residential Construction Manager position, complainant wrote the Trust's

Assistant Deputy Director for Administration (ADD) on May 9, 2001 and

requested that the agency conduct an investigation into the management

and hiring practices of the facility. Complainant asserted that the

Trust's management model promoted �waste, �in your face' discrimination,

disparity in pay scale, employee harassment and abuse, and violation of

government policy and procedures.� Complainant identified himself as

an African-American in his letter.

By letter dated August 17, 2001, the ADD responded to complainant and

stated that he found no evidence to support complainant's allegations.

The ADD encouraged complainant to raise future concerns through his

supervisory chain, specifically to the Deputy Director of Operations.

He further encouraged complainant to present possible solutions or

suggestions for alternatives that specifically addressed concerns

complainant might raise.

On October 31, 2001, after being informed by an outside source that

he should initiate a complaint under EEOC regulation 29 C.F.R. �

1614.105 with the Presidio Trust, complainant made his initial EEO

Counselor contact. At that time, complainant informed the Counselor

that he was unaware of the EEO filing periods. On or about January

24, 2002, complainant filed a formal complaint, alleging that he was

subjected to discrimination on the bases of race (African-American),

age (D.O.B. 8/15/44), and reprisal for prior EEO activity when:

He was not selected for the position of supervisor in the Residential

Construction/Maintenance Department on or about March 2001 (bases:

race and age);

He was not provided an opportunity to apply for the job on or about

March 2001 (bases: race and age);

He was transferred to the Commercial Construction Department to report

to a Work Leader on or about June 17, 2001 (bases: race and age); and

From January 30, 2001 and continuing to the present, he was subjected

to a hostile work environment, including severe disciplinary actions

greatly impacting his salary (basis: reprisal).

In its FAD, issued by the ADD under the title of Director of EEO,

the Presidio Trust stated that it is not under the jurisdiction of the

EEOC. It noted, however, that its EEO program uses EEOC regulations 29

C.F.R. Part 1614 as a reference in administering its program. The Trust

dismissed issues 1, 2, and 3 for untimely counselor contact, pursuant

to 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2). The Trust noted that complainant did

not indicate in his May 9, 2001 letter to the ADD that he believed

the agency's actions in issues 1 and 2 were motivated by prohibited

discrimination. With respect to issue 4, the Trust found that complainant

did not raise the issue with the EEO Counselor and that he was pursuing

the issue through another informal EEO complaint.

CONTENTIONS ON APPEAL

Complainant asserts that the Presidio Trust does not have a formal

EEO program procedure that is known to its employees, a fact that is

verified in the Counselor's report. Complainant argues that, once he

became aware that the Caucasian employee had been promoted, he reported

the incident to the ADD in his May 9, 2001 letter. Furthermore, once an

outside source informed him that he should initiate a complaint under

EEOC regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.105, he did so immediately. He notes

that the Trust is dismissing his complaint under the very regulations

it asserts are not applicable to it.

The Presidio Trust asserts that it is a wholly owned government

corporation, created in 1996 by the Presidio Trust Act, 16 U.S.C.A. �

460bb note as amended (West 2001), to manage for �public use and enjoyment

certain areas of Marin and San Francisco Counties, California, possessing

outstanding natural, historic, scenic and recreational values.�<1>

16 U.S.C. � 460bb. The Trust further explains that Congress mandated

that it �be managed through an innovative public/private partnership

that minimizes cost to the United States Treasury and makes sufficient

use of private sector resources.� The Presidio Trust Act � 101(7).

By implication, it argues that it is not within the coverage of Title

VII or the ADEA since it is neither a private sector employer nor an

arm of any branch of the government. Consequently, the Trust claims

that the Commission lacks jurisdiction over this and any other charge

filed against it by an employee.

The Trust identifies the Presidio Trust Act � 103(c)(7) as the basis for

its assertion that it is not covered by the laws administered by the EEOC.

That section provides:

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the Trust is authorized to

appoint and fix the compensation and duties and terminate the services

of an executive director and such other officers and employees as it

deems necessary without regard to the provisions of Title 5, United

States Code, or other laws related to the appointment, compensation or

termination of Federal employees.

The Presidio Trust Act � 103(c)(7). The Trust argues that, to the extent

that the EEOC administers laws relating to �the employment, compensation,

or termination of federal employees . . ., Congress intended such

provisions to be inapplicable to the Trust.�

The Trust asserts that it fully supports the principles of equal

employment opportunity. Furthermore, in a May 25, 2001 letter, the ADD

explained that the Trust was establishing its EEO policies and procedures

for its employees with the intention to �mirror many aspects of the [Equal

Employment Opportunity Management Directive for 29 C.F.R. Part 1614],

MD-110, including an informal fact-finding stage, alternative dispute

resolution, a formal investigation phase, and a final agency decision.�

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

Jurisdiction

Title VII's prohibitions against employment discrimination on the basis

of an individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin apply

to employers and other entities covered by the Act. See 42 U.S.C. �

2000e-2 and 3.<2> The term "employer" is defined in Section 701(b)

of the Act. That section provides, in pertinent part, as follows:

... "employer" means a person engaged in an industry affecting commerce

who has fifteen or more employees for each working day in the current or

preceding calendar year, and any agent of such a person, but such term

does not include (1) the United States, a corporation wholly owned by

the Government of the United States....

42 U.S.C. � 2000e(b).

Although, as originally enacted, Title VII's protections against unlawful

discrimination did not apply to federal government employees or applicants

for federal employment, the Act was amended in 1972 to extend its coverage

to the federal sector.<3> Added by the 1972 amendments, Section 717(a)

of Title VII states:

All personnel actions affecting employees or applicants for employment

(except with regard to aliens employed outside the limits of the

United States) in military departments as defined in section 102 of

Title 5, in executive agencies as defined in section 105 of Title 5

(including employees and applicants for employment who are paid from

non-appropriated funds), in the United States Postal Service and

the Postal Rate Commission, in those units of the Government of the

District of Columbia having positions in the competitive service, and

in those units of the legislative and judicial branches of the Federal

Government having positions in the competitive service, and in the Library

of Congress shall be made free from any discrimination based on race,

color, religion, sex, or national origin. (Emphasis added.)

42 U.S.C. � 2000e-16(a).

The Commission must first determine whether the coverage of Title VII

extends to the Presidio Trust, either as a private sector employer

within the meaning of Section 701(b) or as a federal government entity

to which the provisions of Section 717 apply. If the Presidio Trust is

an instrumentality of the U.S. government, then it falls outside the

definition of "employer" in Section 701(b) and, consequently, is not

subject to the provisions of Section 703(a). If the Presidio Trust

is within the federal government, then it is covered under Section 717,

unless it is neither an executive agency nor a unit of the legislative<4>

or the judicial branch having positions in the competitive service

(nor comprised of such units). Only in the case that the Presidio

Trust is not (1) an executive agency or (2) a unit of the legislative

or the judicial branch, having positions in the competitive service,

would it fall outside the coverage of Title VII altogether.

Section 105 of Title 5 defines an executive agency as "an

Executive department, a Government corporation, and an independent

establishment."<5> A �Government Corporation,� as defined at Section

103 of Title 5, is �a corporation owned or controlled by the Government

of the United States.� 5 U.S.C. � 103(a). The Presidio Trust, as

established in 16 U.S.C. � 460bb, is a corporation wholly owned by

the United States Government.<6> The Presidio Trust Act � 103(c)(10).

Accordingly, the Commission is persuaded that, within in the meaning of

Title 5, the Trust is an executive agency.<7>

The remaining issue is whether employees of the Presidio Trust, an

executive agency, are covered by the provisions of Section 717(a) of

Title VII. Section 717(a) incorporates by reference the definition

of "executive agency" found at 5 U.S.C. � 105. The Commission finds

therefore that, since the Presidio Trust is an executive agency as defined

by Section 105 of Title 5, all its employees are within the coverage of

Title VII.

The Presidio Trust contends that Congress freed the Trust from government

structures that �constrain most executive agencies.� Specifically,

the Trust interprets the Presidio Trust Act � 103(c)(7), which exempts

the Trust from actions related to Title 5 of the United States Code and

�other laws related to the appointment, compensation or termination of

Federal employees,� to also exempt the Trust from the requirements of

Title VII. The Commission finds, however, that, within the plain meaning

of that provision, the phrase �other laws� cannot be construed to include

Title VII. Rather, while the clause exempts the Trust from administrative

procedures and civil service functions and responsibilities, it does

not free the Trust from compliance with the federal anti-discrimination

statutes, such as Title VII,<8> that were enacted to protect against

unlawful employment practices. We note in this respect that �[c]ourts

must presume that a legislature says in a statute what it means and means

in a statute what it says there.� Connecticut Nat'l Bank v. Germain,

503 U.S. 249, 253-54 (1992). We therefore presume that Congress

would have said that the Presidio Trust is exempt from the federal

anti-discrimination statutes, if this had been its intent.

The presumption that a statute means what it says is a difficult one

to overcome. In ignoring the plain meaning of the Presidio Trust Act

� 103(c)(7), the Trust has produced no evidence of a clear intent by

Congress to exempt the Trust, despite its governmental nature, from

being within the coverage of Title VII.<9> The inference the Trust

would draw from the Presidio Trust Act � 103(c)(7) cannot counter

Section 717 of Title VII's clear language, which includes executive

agencies within the coverage of Title VII. Congress may have vested

the Trust with specific powers in order to increase its independence

and autonomy, but it also provided the Trust with executive agency

status by establishing it as a wholly owned government corporation.

Contrary to the suggestion of the Presidio Trust, it would be illogical

to assume that Congress, because it granted the Trust some autonomy,

intended to grant the Trust an exemption from Title VII, providing it

a special status unlike either a private sector employer or an arm of

any branch of the government. Congress knows how to create entities and

confer upon them non-governmental status when it is Congress' intention

to do so.<10> Inasmuch as Congress embedded the Presidio Trust within

the federal government, the logical inference is that it intended the

Trust to be subject to the same laws, except as specifically stated in

the Presidio Trust Act � 103(c)(7), as other executive agencies.

The Commission finds, therefore, that the Presidio Trust is a federal

entity within the coverage of Section 717. The Trust is thus exempt

from the definition of "employer" under Section 701(b) of Title VII and,

therefore, foreclosed from being covered as a private sector employer

subject to the prohibitions contained in Section 703(a) of Title VII

and the procedures and remedies set forth in Section 706.

Prior to 1974, ADEA coverage did not extend to federal sector employment.

The 1974 amendments to ADEA added Section 15(a), the language of which is

virtually identical to that of Section 717(a) of Title VII.<11> Because

federal sector coverage under ADEA and Title VII are coextensive, the

status of the Presidio Trust under ADEA is no different from that under

Title VII.

Accordingly, the Presidio Trust, is an executive agency within the

meaning of Section 717 of Title VII and Section 15(a) of the ADEA and

is, therefore, within the coverage of the Acts and the jurisdiction of

the EEOC.

The Commission emphasizes that, while it does not question the Presidio

Trust's articulated commitment to equal employment opportunity, it

rejects the Presidio Trust's contention that it is wholly outside

the jurisdiction of the EEOC. In enacting Title VII and the ADEA

and subsequently amending them to extend their coverage to federal

and other public sector employees, as well as to employees of the

private sector, Congress manifested its clear intent to broadly prohibit

unlawful employment discrimination and provide a legal remedy therefor.

As remedial social legislation, Title VII and the ADEA are entitled to

liberal interpretation in order to effectuate the purpose of the Acts.

A narrow reading of the Presidio Trust Act, such as advanced by the

Trust in its contention that it is not covered by Title VII or ADEA,

would result in the deprivation of significant rights and protections

to its employees. Such a result, the Commission believes, would run

contrary to and frustrate the intent of Congress.

EEO Counselor Contact

EEOC Regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.107(a)(2) requires agencies to dismiss

a complaint or a portion of a complaint which fails to comply with the

time limitations set forth in 29 C.F.R. � 1614.105(a). An aggrieved

person is required to initiate contact with an EEO counselor within 45

days of the date of the matter alleged to be discriminatory or, in the

case of a personnel action, within 45 days of the effective date of the

action. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.105(a)(1). EEOC Regulations further provide

for extensions to the time limit when the individual shows that he or she

was not notified of the time limits and was not otherwise aware of them,

that he or she did not know and reasonably should not have known that

the discriminatory matter or personnel action occurred, that despite

due diligence he or she was prevented by circumstances beyond his or

her control from contacting the Counselor within the time limits, or for

other reasons considered sufficient by the agency or the Commission. 29

C.F.R. � 1614.105(a)(2).

In the instant case, complainant contends that he was unaware of the

45-day time limit. According to complainant, the agency failed to inform

employees of the Presidio Trust's EEO program. Complainant asserts

and the record reflects that he reported the incidents that he believed

to be discriminatory to the ADD in a May 9, 2001 letter. Furthermore,

once an outside source informed him that he should initiate a complaint

under EEOC regulation 29 C.F.R. � 1614.105, he did so immediately.

The Commission has consistently held that where there is an issue of

timeliness, the agency always bears the burden of obtaining sufficient

information to support a reasoned determination as to timeliness.

Williams v. Department of Defense, EEOC Request No. 05920506 (August 25,

1992). In the instant complaint, the agency has not met this burden.

The record does not support the agency's contention that complainant

should have been aware of the 45-day time limit. The agency failed to

provide evidence to show that the EEO process was known to its employees.

In fact, the EEO counselor's report stated that the Presidio Trust

did not have an EEO program in place, and while the procedures were

being drafted, they had not yet been approved by management or the

local bargaining unit. Moreover, when complainant complained to the

ADD in his May 9, 2001 letter, stating that the agency's management

model promoted �waste, �in your face' discrimination, disparity in

pay scale, employee harassment and abuse, and violation of government

policy and procedures,� the ADD directed him to raise future concerns

through his supervisory chain. While the Presidio Trust stated in its

FAD that complainant did not indicate that he believed the reported

actions to be caused by illegal discrimination based on race and age,

the record reflects that complainant made reference to discrimination,

disparity in pay, and harassment, and identified the number of years he

had worked for the Federal government and his race. We find that, in

his May 9, 2001 letter, complainant made statements regarding his belief

that discrimination existed in the Presidio Trust, and thus placed the

Presidio Trust on notice. Accordingly, we find that the agency failed

to provide evidence sufficient to support application of a constructive

notice rule. Pride v. United States Postal Service, EEOC Request No,

05930134 (August 19, 1993).

In addition, the Commission finds that, as to issue 4, the agency has

failed to provide evidence that complainant failed to seek counseling on

that issue. Therefore, issues 1, 2, 3, and 4 are remanded for further

processing in accordance with this decision and the proper regulations.

CONCLUSION

The Commission find that the Presidio Trust is an executive agency of the

federal government within the meaning of Title VII, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e-16,

and the ADEA, 29 U.S.C. � 633a, and as such, is within the coverage of

the Acts and the jurisdiction of the EEOC. The decision of the agency

is REVERSED and REMANDED for further processing in accordance with this

decision and the proper regulations. The parties are advised that this

decision is not a decision on the merits of complainant's complaint. The

agency shall comply with the Commission's Order set forth below.

ORDER (E0900)

The Presidio Trust is ordered to process the remanded claims in accordance

with 29 C.F.R. � 1614.108. The Presidio Trust shall acknowledge to the

complainant that it has received the remanded claims within thirty (30)

calendar days of the date this decision becomes final. The Presidio

Trust shall issue to complainant a copy of the investigative file and

also shall notify complainant of the appropriate rights within one

hundred fifty (150) calendar days of the date this decision becomes

final, unless the matter is otherwise resolved prior to that time.

If the complainant requests a final decision without a hearing, the

Presidio Trust shall issue a final decision within sixty (60) days of

receipt of complainant's request.

Within sixty (60) calendar days of the date this decision becomes final,

the Presidio Trust is ordered to provide proof that it has established

an EEO process that conforms with EEOC regulations 29 C.F.R. Part 1614

et seq. and the Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for

29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (November 9, 1999).

A copy of the Presidio Trust's letter of acknowledgment to complainant

and a copy of the notice that transmits the investigative file and notice

of rights, as well as evidence of the Presidio Trust's EEO program must

be sent to the Compliance Officer as referenced below.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMISSION'S DECISION (K0900)

Compliance with the Commission's corrective action is mandatory.

The agency shall submit its compliance report within thirty (30)

calendar days of the completion of all ordered corrective action. The

report shall be submitted to the Compliance Officer, Office of Federal

Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,

Washington, D.C. 20036. The agency's report must contain supporting

documentation, and the agency must send a copy of all submissions to

the complainant. If the agency does not comply with the Commission's

order, the complainant may petition the Commission for enforcement of

the order. 29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(a). The complainant also has the right

to file a civil action to enforce compliance with the Commission's order

prior to or following an administrative petition for enforcement. See 29

C.F.R. �� 1614.407, 1614.408, and 29 C.F.R. � 1614.503(g). Alternatively,

the complainant has the right to file a civil action on the underlying

complaint in accordance with the paragraph below entitled "Right to File

A Civil Action." 29 C.F.R. �� 1614.407 and 1614.408. A civil action

for enforcement or a civil action on the underlying complaint is subject

to the deadline stated in 42 U.S.C. � 2000e-16(c)(Supp. V 1993). If the

complainant files a civil action, the administrative processing of the

complaint, including any petition for enforcement, will be terminated.

See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.409.

STATEMENT OF RIGHTS - ON APPEAL

RECONSIDERATION (M0701)

The Commission may, in its discretion, reconsider the decision in this

case if the complainant or the agency submits a written request containing

arguments or evidence which tend to establish that:

1. The appellate decision involved a clearly erroneous interpretation

of material fact or law; or

2. The appellate decision will have a substantial impact on the policies,

practices, or operations of the agency.

Requests to reconsider, with supporting statement or brief, must be filed

with the Office of Federal Operations (OFO) within thirty (30) calendar

days of receipt of this decision or within twenty (20) calendar days of

receipt of another party's timely request for reconsideration. See 29

C.F.R. � 1614.405; Equal Employment Opportunity Management Directive for

29 C.F.R. Part 1614 (EEO MD-110), 9-18 (November 9, 1999). All requests

and arguments must be submitted to the Director, Office of Federal

Operations, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, P.O. Box 19848,

Washington, D.C. 20036. In the absence of a legible postmark, the

request to reconsider shall be deemed timely filed if it is received by

mail within five days of the expiration of the applicable filing period.

See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.604. The request or opposition must also include

proof of service on the other party.

Failure to file within the time period will result in dismissal of your

request for reconsideration as untimely, unless extenuating circumstances

prevented the timely filing of the request. Any supporting documentation

must be submitted with your request for reconsideration. The Commission

will consider requests for reconsideration filed after the deadline only

in very limited circumstances. See 29 C.F.R. � 1614.604(c).

COMPLAINANT'S RIGHT TO FILE A CIVIL ACTION (R0900)

This is a decision requiring the agency to continue its administrative

processing of your complaint. However, if you wish to file a civil

action, you have the right to file such action in an appropriate United

States District Court within ninety (90) calendar days from the date

that you receive this decision. In the alternative, you may file a

civil action after one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days of the date

you filed your complaint with the agency, or filed your appeal with the

Commission. If you file a civil action, you must name as the defendant in

the complaint the person who is the official agency head or department

head, identifying that person by his or her full name and official title.

Failure to do so may result in the dismissal of your case in court.

"Agency" or "department" means the national organization, and not the

local office, facility or department in which you work. Filing a civil

action will terminate the administrative processing of your complaint.

RIGHT TO REQUEST COUNSEL (Z1199)

If you decide to file a civil action, and if you do not have or cannot

afford the services of an attorney, you may request that the Court appoint

an attorney to represent you and that the Court permit you to file the

action without payment of fees, costs, or other security. See Title VII

of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. � 2000e et seq.;

the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. �� 791, 794(c).

The grant or denial of the request is within the sole discretion of

the Court. Filing a request for an attorney does not extend your time

in which to

file a civil action. Both the request and the civil action must be

filed within the time limits as stated in the paragraph above ("Right

to File A Civil Action").

FOR THE COMMISSION:

______________________________

Frances M. Hart

Executive Officer

Executive Secretariat

____03-18-03______________

Date

1 The powers and management of the Trust are vested in seven members,

including the Secretary of the Interior and six (6) individuals, who

are not employees of the Federal government, appointed by the President.

2 It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer--

(1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or

otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his

compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because

of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; or

(2) to limit, segregate, or classify his employees or applicants

for employment in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any

individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect

his status as an employee, because of such individual's race, color,

religion, sex, or national origin. 42 U.S.C. � 2000e-2(a).

3 Prior to the 1972 amendments, Exec. Order No. 11478, 34 Fed. Reg. 12985

(1969), prohibited discrimination in federal employment on the bases of

race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

4 We note that Sections 117 and 301 of the Civil Rights Act of 1991,

as added, 105 Stat. 1072, 42 U.S.C. � 1981a, extended the rights

and protections of Title VII to employees of the Senate, the House

of Representatives, and �Instrumentalities of Congress,� defined as

the Architect of the Capitol, the Congressional Budget Office, the

General Accounting Office, the Government Printing Office, the Office

of Technology Assessment, and the United States Botanic Garden.

5 For the purposes of 5 U.S.C. � 104, an independent establishment is �(1)

an establishment in the executive branch (other than the United States

Postal Service or the Postal Rate Commission) which is not an executive

department, military department, government corporation, or part thereof,

or part of an independent establishment; and (2) the General Accounting

Office.� 5 U.S.C. � 104.

6 According to 16 U.S.C. � 460bb, the Presidio Trust is subject to

chapter 91 of Title 31 of the United States Code. 16 U.S.C. � 460bb.

7 We note that the Presidio Trust identifies itself as an �executive

agency of the U.S. government,� on its website at www.presidiotrust.gov.

8 Other federal anti-discrimination statutes include the ADEA, Section

501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act), as amended,

29 U.S.C. � 791 et seq., and the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended,

29 U.S.C. � 206(d) et seq.

9 The Trust acknowledges that �there is an unfortunate paucity of

legislative history regarding the plain text in the amendment.�

10 In establishing National R.R. Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) and

the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Congress explicitly provided

that they were not agencies or establishments of the United States

Government. See 47 U.S.C. � 396(b) (providing that the Corporation for

Public Broadcasting "will not be an agency or establishment of the United

States Government"); 45 U.S.C. � 541 (providing that Amtrak "will not be

an agency or establishment of the United States Government") (repealed).

11 Section 15(a) of the ADEA, 29 U.S.C. � 633a(a), provides:

All personnel actions affecting employees or applicants for employment

who are at least 40 years of age (except personnel actions with regard

to aliens employed outside the limits of the United States) in military

departments as defined in Section 102 of Title 5, United States Code,

in executive agencies as defined in Section 105 of Title 5, United

States Code (including employees and applicants for employment who are

paid from nonappropriated funds), in the United States Postal Service

and the Postal Rate Commission, in those units in the government of the

District of Columbia having positions in the competitive service, and

in those units of the legislative and judicial branches of the Federal

Government having positions in the competitive service, and in the Library

of Congress shall be made free from any discrimination based on age.

(Emphasis added.) See also 42 U.S.C. � 2000e-16(a).