Lawmakers Skeptical of Efforts to Nix Forced Arbitration Broadly

A federal ban on mandatory arbitration agreements in age discrimination and other employment contexts remains elusive despite Congress having restricted their use in cases of sexual assault and sexual harassment.

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday, Republicans expressed their hesitation to expand such a ban beyond those narrow contexts.

“I am not in favor of expanding this prohibition on arbitration beyond that unique context that we found with sexual assault and harassment,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said. “While I’m glad that we prohibited forced arbitration agreements in those limited circumstances, I think we have to be very careful as ...