January Educate Congress
In the past few months a record number of actors, business executives and Members of Congress have been accused of improper and predatory behavior; we must have a legislative solution to end sex discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace.
HR 4396 - Member and Employee Training and Oversight On Congress Act (Me Too Act)
Following revelations of sexual assault against Congressional Senate and House Members Congress is facing an extremely negative public image on the issue.
Worse still, new reports have detailed how a 1995 law called the Congressional Accountability Act which was intended to deal with the problem has in reality been little enforced.
Congress must have policies and procedures in place to deal with this issue internally including protections against sexual harassment, to require the updating of programs of sexual harassment prevention and response training in employment, to institute biennial employment discrimination climate surveys.
We ask that you join the 142 Democratic and Republican cosponsors of HR 4396 - Member and Employee Training and Oversight on Congress Act (Speier CA14) and cosponsor this bill.
This bill provides the following solutions to Congressional employee harassment:
- reforms procedures for investigation and resolution of complaints
- separates investigation from adjudication
- makes victim's legal counsel available
- prohibits requirement of non-disclosure agreement
- makes remote work or paid leave available during pending procedure
- Requirements for programs of sexual harassment prevention and response training in employment
- makes Members of Congress personally liable for payment of settlements and awards
- not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the ME TOO Congress Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Office shall conduct a survey of Members of Congress and congressional staff regarding employment discrimination in congressional employment
HR 4152 - Fair Employment Protection Act
We ask that you cosponsor HR 4152 - Fair Employment Protection Act (DeLauro CT03). The bill declares that employers under such the following Acts (Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Revised Statutes, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, employment discrimination laws relating to certain executive branch employees, and the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995) are liable for the acts of any individual whose harassment of an employee created or continued an unlawful hostile work environment if, at the time of the harassment: (1) such individual was authorized by that employer to undertake or recommend tangible employment actions affecting the employee or to direct the employee's daily work activities, or (2) the negligence of the employer led to the creation or continuation of that hostile work environment.
Senate Bills
S2159 - Member and Employee Training and Oversight on Congress Act (Me Too Act - Gillibrand-NY)
S2019 - Fair Employment Protection Act (Baldwin-WI)