Senate lawmakers on Tuesday were set to unveil a bipartisan bill that would overhaul decades-old rules for reporting and punishing sexual harassment, and are looking to pass the measure as soon as this week, Republicans said.
Among other things, the bill would hold lawmakers responsible for harassment payouts.
“I think it’s safe to say we are very close,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said after briefing GOP lawmakers on the bill in a closed-door session Tuesday.
Lawmakers plan to update the 1995 Congressional Accountability Act, which governs how Capitol Hill responds to workplace complaints ranging from racial discrimination to sexual harassment. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. is co-authoring the update with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who briefed Democrats Tuesday.
Blunt said the bill would eliminate the lengthy waiting period, which can last as long as 90 days, that now prevents a victim of harassment from quickly taking someone to court.
“We will be eliminating those things,” Blunt said.
The bill would ensure that lawmakers “have personal liability” for harassment settlements, although he did not specify the details. Under current law, taxpayers often foot the bill when lawmakers are found liable for harassment and a payout is provided to a victim.
The House and Senate combined have paid millions to victims of sexual harassment and other workplace complaints. The House passed legislation in February holding lawmakers liable for sexual harassment settlements.
