INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION TO COMBAT WORKPLACE SEXUAL HARASSMENT ACT; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 161
(Extensions of Remarks - October 11, 2019)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION TO COMBAT WORKPLACE SEXUAL
HARASSMENT ACT
______
HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON
of the district of columbia
in the house of representatives
Friday, October 11, 2019
Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the National Commission
to Combat Workplace Sexual Harassment Act to establish a national
commission to examine and combat sexual harassment in the U.S.
workplace.
I have modeled this bill on legislation Congress has passed to
address other national problems considered to be serious, such as
gambling. The almost daily exposure of allegations of sexual
harassment, many not denied, more than qualifies sexual harassment for
national attention and priority. This bill would create a national
commission to focus on sexual harassment in major industries and
workplaces throughout the United States.
Congress recently adopted a bill that addresses harassment in the
congressional workplace. It requires Members of the House and Senate to
be personally liable for settlements and awards resulting from
harassment and retaliation claims, removes the mandatory counseling,
mediation and ``cooling off'' periods for accusers that is currently
required, mandates publicly reporting awards and settlements and covers
unpaid staff as well. This is a step in the right direction beginning
where Congress should--right here in the Congress itself. However,
nothing equivalent has been done for sexual harassment that affects the
American people. We have largely neglected our own constituents,
despite the increasing number of troubling reports in the news of
sexual harassment claims.
A national commission would assure the American people that Congress
takes sexual harassment affecting them--the typical worker--seriously,
beyond the high-profile examples, such as allegations against Harvey
Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein and the Congress itself, that have garnered
the headlines. Most importantly, the commission would hear from a cross
section of the public--from office and factory workers to retail and
food service employees--whose experiences with sexual harassment have
received almost no national attention. The commission could travel or
invite witnesses to Washington from throughout the country to recommend
changes in laws or regulations and best practices on preventing,
training, investigating, responding to and penalizing sexual harassment
in the private and public sectors.
Our constituents expect Congress, which represents every sector, to
take on the problem of sexual harassment throughout our national
economy, including private and public (federal, state and local)
workplaces. A national commission could help reach and reduce sexual
harassment, a form of gender discrimination, where the average American
works.
I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.
____________________
