Poliquin, Costello introduce bill addressing sexual harassment in Congress

U.S. Reps. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) and Ryan Costello (R-PA) on Wednesday introduced the bipartisan Member and Employee Training and Oversight On Congress Act, which would set definitive criteria to address sexual harassment in all national legislative branch offices.

Specifically, the so-called ME TOO Congress Act, H.R. 4396, would amend the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to reform provisions concerning procedures for investigating and resolving allegations that legislative branch employing offices violated the rights and protections provided to their employees, including protections against sexual harassment. The bill would ensure that such protected rights are extended to interns, fellows and whistleblowers in Congress.

“There can be no tolerance of any kind for sexual harassment anywhere — period,” Rep. Poliquin said.

The measure also would require updated, annual and mandatory sexual harassment prevention and response training for every employee, and establish biennial employment-discrimination climate surveys.

“While many, if not most congressional offices, mine included, have policies in place regarding sexual harassment, this legislation will … bring greater transparency and accountability to procedures for filing and investigating a complaint,” Costello said.

U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), who sponsored H.R. 4396, joined Costello and Poliquin in introducing the bill earlier this week.

Speier noted that Congress created the Office of Congressional Compliance in 1995 “to protect itself from being exposed and it has been remarkably successful.”

But 20 years later, 260 settlements and more than $15 million have permanently silenced victims of all types of workplace discrimination, Speier said, and it’s time to “end the era of impunity for disgraceful behavior and to protect the survivors.”

“Zero tolerance is meaningless unless it is backed up with enforcement and accountability,” she said.
Poliquin commended Speier’s dedication to the issue and said he’s “proud to work across the aisle and across the Capitol to make these necessary fixes.”

“It is very unfortunate that it has taken this long to shine a light on just how opaque, how confusing it is to go about accessing the right set of tools in order to file a complaint,” added Costello. “The federal government should be a leader on this. This bill is long overdue.”

U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD) also signed on as original cosponsors to H.R. 4396, which has been referred to the House Administration Committee. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced a companion bill in the Senate.