PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES REGINALD E. JONES AS EEOC COMMISSIONER

WASHINGTON -- President Clinton today announced his intent to nominate Reginald E. Jones as a Commissioner to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). If approved by the Senate, Mr. Jones would fill the vacancy left by R. Gaul Silberman who left the agency at the end of her term in June 1995.

EEOC Chairman Gilbert F. Casellas said, "I am pleased with the President's selection and I hope that Mr. Jones has a speedy confirmation."

Reginald E. Jones of Wheaton, Maryland, has served as Senior Legislative Counsel to Senator James Jeffords (R-VT) since January of 1993. Prior to his current position in Senator Jefford's office, Mr. Jones served as Minority Counsel and Staff Director from 1989 to 1993. Mr. Jones worked on a wide variety of issues during the years with the Senate, including successful enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. His portfolio of non-labor and employment issues included legislation to reform the civil and criminal justice systems, product liability law, and legal and illegal immigration laws, among others.

Immediately before working on Capitol Hill, Mr. Jones was a labor and employment law practitioner in New York City. During that time, he was an associate and partner in the law firm of Seyfarth, Shaw, Fairweather & Geraldson. He began his legal career as an associate in the firm of Jackson, Lewis, Schnitzler & Krupman. Mr. Jones received his B.A. from Yale University and both his J.D. and M.B.A. for New York University.

The confirmation of Mr. Jones would bring the bi-partisan Commission to its full complement of five members. Including Chairman Casellas, the other members include Paul M. Igasaki, who serves as Vice-Chairman, and Commissioners Joyce E. Tucker and Paul Steven Miller.

EEOC enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; the Equal Pay Act; prohibitions against discrimination affecting individuals with disabilities in the federal government; sections of the Civil Rights Act of 1991; and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in the private sector and state and local governments.