Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., is hoping the increased national attention on sexual harassment and assault in the workplace will help her push through legislation to strengthen the rules in Congress by the end of 2017.
Speier’s spokesperson said that she and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., are recruiting cosponsors for the Member and Employee Training and Oversight on Congress Act, or the Me Too Congress Act. They’re signing up lawmakers in pairs, adding one Republican and one Democrat at a time.
Staff didn’t give specific numbers, but said support for major reforms in Congress for handling sexual harassment and assault allegations is strong, and that lawmakers aren’t having any trouble finding supporters.
“The momentum seems to be strong. Hopefully that will continue and something will be done before the end of the year,” the spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
The effort couldn’t be more timely, as the wave of sexual assault that hit Hollywood has now crashed into Washington politics. Alabama’s Republican Senate candidate, Judge Roy Moore, has been accused by several women of assault and inappropriate advances, and on Thursday, sitting Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., was hit by accusations of assault that were accompanied by a picture of him groping a journalist as she slept.
Speier and Gillibrand said Wednesday that the bill would serve as a way to update the legislative body’s protocols for dealing with harassment allegations, and bring them more in line with the private sector’s modern policies. They say the current rules, outlined in the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, helps sexual assault suspects instead of their accusers.
One major change would eliminate the 90-day period that victims must wait out before filing a formal complaint with the Office of Compliance. That includes a mandatory 30-day counseling period, a 30-day mediation period, and a 30-day cooling off period.
If passed, the bill would make the counseling and mediation stages voluntary, and accusers would no long have to sign mandatory nondisclosure agreements. They would also receive the same type of whistleblower protection as every other government employee.
The bill would also give interns, pages and fellows access to the same process that congressional employees have, require all personnel to complete annual training on sexual harassment, and also require surveys of all staff to help gauge progress.
Many were angered this week when Speier revealed that taxpayers have paid for $15 million in sexual harassment settlements over the years. Under the bill, the Office of Compliance would have to publish the amount a victim receives in a settlement, and which member’s office was implicated.
It would also require lawmakers to reimburse taxpayers for all settlements, and Speier’s office said lawmakers seem fine with that change.
“We haven’t been presented with any opposition, or criticism,” the spokesperson said. “In fact, the congresswoman wanted to have the settlement money come out of the members accounts, rather than the Treasury which is paid for by taxpayers – but didn’t think other members would support that and was prepared to have a fund set aside, so she was very happy to hear Congressman [Bradley] Byrne talk about the need for the settlement money to come from members’ accounts.”
House Republicans leaders haven’t said whether they will allow her bill to move ahead, but have spoken generally about the need for changes. Additionally, House Speaker Paul Ryan has announced the House would adopt a policy of mandatory anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training for all members and staff.
“Our goal is not only to raise awareness, but also make abundantly clear that harassment in any form has no place in this institution. As we work with the Administration, Ethics, and Rules committees to implement mandatory training, we will continue our review to make sure the right policies and resources are in place to prevent and report harassment,” Ryan said Tuesday.
