U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) has signed his home state’s #MaineCanDo anti-harassment pledge, joining more than 300 Maine residents, businesses and organizations in promising to support respectful, harassment-free environments.
“Employees should always feel safe and comfortable in their own workplace,” Rep. Poliquin said. “This past year, I’m pleased Democrats and Republicans have worked together to put in place long-overdue reforms on Capitol Hill to help prevent harassment.”
“But, unfortunately,” added the congressman, “this is an issue that exists in every industry and in every line of work. I’m pleased to sign on to the #MaineCanDo pledge to continue the nationwide anti-harassment movement as well as bring change right here in the state of Maine.”
Thus far, almost 150 individuals and 164 companies and groups have made the pledge, according to the #MaineCanDo website, including the Bangor Daily News, Hancock Lumber, 230Trees, the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Greater Portland Council of Governments, Maine Association of Nonprofits, Maine House of Representatives, and Bangor Savings Bank, among dozens of others.
Specifically, the #MaineCanDo pledge is a commitment to items such as reviewing and auditing workplace sexual harassment policies; developing appropriate and safe processes to report, measure and track complaints; proactively creating respectful workplace cultures; and designating go-to members who will ensure grievances are taken seriously, investigated fairly and resolved quickly, among others.
“In the #MeToo era, society has finally raised the bar on what it will tolerate,” said Betsy Peters, chief instigator of the movement and CEO of 230Trees, a Portland-based think tank coworking firm.
“It’s everybody’s responsibility to police situations where sexual harassment could occur — in the places where we work, live, eat, and play,” Peters said. “The #MaineCanDo pledge is designed to empower individuals, companies, board members and investors with tools to do just that. We are very grateful for Congressman Poliquin’s support for our platform and his efforts in this movement.”
Rep. Poliquin has continued to advocate in Congress for reform policies that would improve preventions and protections for victims of harassment, according to a June 15 statement from his office.
For example, Rep. Poliquin is an original cosponsor of the bipartisan, bicameral Member and Employee Training and Oversight On (ME TOO) Congress Act, H.R. 4396, introduced in November 2017 by U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA).
Among numerous provisions, the bill would amend the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to reform its procedures for the investigation and resolution of allegations that employing offices of the legislative branch have violated the rights and protections provided to their employees, including protections against sexual harassment, according to the congressional record summary.
H.R. 4396, which has 151 cosponsors, is under consideration by the U.S. House Committee on House Administration. The same-named bill in the Senate, S. 2159, which is led by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), is cosponsored by 18 senators. It has been referred to the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for deliberation.