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provide that assistance and representation in any juris-
diction, subject to such regulations as may be prescribed 
by the Office. 
(3) NATURE OF RELATIONSHIP.—The relationship 
between the Office and an employee to whom the Office 
provides legal assistance, consultation, and representa-
tion under this section shall be the relationship between 
an attorney and client. 
(4) PROHIBITING ACCEPTANCE OF AWARD OF AT-
TORNEY FEES OR OTHER COSTS.—The Office may not 
accept any award of attorney fees or other litigation ex-
penses and costs under any hearing or civil action 
brought under the Congressional Accountability Act of 
1995. 
(5) PROHIBITING ASSISTANCE IN OTHER MATTERS 
OR
PROCEEDINGS.—The Office may not provide any 
legal assistance, consultation, or representation with re-
spect to any matter or proceeding which does not arise 
under the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995. 
(c) PROHIBITING PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE UPON FIL-
ING OF CIVIL ACTION.—If a covered employee of the House 
files a civil action with respect to an alleged violation of the 
Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, as provided in sec-
tion 408 of such Act, the Office may not provide assistance 
under this section to the employee with respect to investiga-
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tions or proceedings under such Act in connection with such 
alleged violation at any time after the employee files such ac-
tion. 
(d) DIRECTOR.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT.—The Office shall be headed by 
a Director who shall be appointed by the Chief Adminis-
trative Officer of the House of Representatives. 
(2) QUALIFICATIONS; NONPARTISANSHIP OF POSI-
TION.—The individual appointed as Director shall be a 
lawyer who is admitted to practice before the United 
States District Court for the District of Columbia and 
who has experience in representing employees in work-
place discrimination cases. 
(3) COMPENSATION.—The Director shall be paid at 
an annual rate established by the Chief Administrative 
Officer. 
(4) REMOVAL.—The Director may be removed by 
the Chief Administrative Officer only for cause. 
(e) OTHER PERSONNEL.—Subject to regulations of the 
Committee on House Administration and with the approval of 
the Chief Administrative Officer, the Director may appoint 
and fix the compensation of such additional personnel as the 
Director determines to be necessary to carry out the func-
tions of the Office.
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(f) NONPARTISANSHIP
OF POSITIONS.—The Director 
and the other personnel of the Office shall be appointed with-
out regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of 
fitness to perform the duties of the position. 
SEC. 3. FUNCTIONS OF OFFICE OF HOUSE EMPLOYMENT COUN-
SEL. 
(a) FUNCTIONS DESCRIBED.—The Office of the House 
Employment Counsel established under the Office of the 
Clerk of the House of Representatives shall carry out all of 
the functions which the Office carried out as of the date of 
the enactment of this Act, including the following: 
(1) Providing legal assistance and representation to 
employing offices of the House with respect to pro-
ceedings under the Congressional Accountability Act of 
1995 which are brought by covered employees of the 
House under such Act. 
(2) Providing employing offices of the House with 
confidential advice and counseling regarding compliance 
with employment laws. 
(3) Providing training to managers and employees 
regarding employment law compliance. 
(b) NO EFFECT ON PENDING PROCEEDINGS.—Nothing 
in this section may be construed to affect any proceeding to 
which the Office is a party that is pending on the date of the
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enactment of this Act, including any suit to which the Office 
is a party that is commenced prior to such date. 
SEC. 4. REQUIRING INCLUSION OF CERTIFICATIONS ON PAY-
ROLL AUTHORIZATION FORMS OF HOUSE OF REP-
RESENTATIVES OF NO CONNECTION BETWEEN 
PAYROLL ACTIONS AND AWARDS AND SETTLE-
MENTS 
UNDER 
CONGRESSIONAL 
ACCOUNT-
ABILITY ACT OF 1995. 
(a) REQUIRING
INCLUSION
OF
CERTIFICATION
ON 
FORMS.—The Chief Administrative Officer of the House of 
Representatives shall incorporate, as part of the Payroll Au-
thorization Form used by an office of the House to register 
the appointment of an employee to the office or a salary ad-
justment or title change with respect to an employee of the 
office— 
(1) a certification to be made by the authorizing of-
ficial of the office that the appointment, salary adjust-
ment, or title change is not made to pay a settlement or 
award in connection with conduct prohibited under the 
Congressional Accountability Act of 1995; and 
(2) in the case of an office of a Member of the 
House, a certification by the Member that any amounts 
in the Members’ Representational Allowance for the of-
fice which may be used to carry out the appointment, 
salary adjustment, or title change are not being used to
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pay a settlement or award in connection with conduct 
prohibited under such Act. 
(b) REQUIRING CERTIFICATION AS CONDITION OF PROC-
ESSING PAYROLL ACTION.—The Chief Administrative Officer 
may not process any Payroll Authorization Form with respect 
to an office of the House if the Form does not include the 
certifications required with respect to that office under sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 5. SEXUAL HARASSMENT AS VIOLATION OF HOUSE CODE 
OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT. 
Clause 9 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives is amended by striking ‘‘such individual,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘such individual, including by committing an 
act of sexual harassment against such individual,’’. 
SEC. 6. SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN HOUSE MEMBERS 
AND EMPLOYEES AND UNWELCOME SEXUAL AD-
VANCES AS VIOLATION OF HOUSE CODE OF OFFI-
CIAL CONDUCT. 
Rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives 
is amended— 
(1) by redesignating clause 18 as clause 19; and 
(2) by inserting after clause 17 the following new 
clause: 
‘‘18.(a) A Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner 
may not engage in a sexual relationship with any employee
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of the House who works under the supervision of the Mem-
ber, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner. This paragraph 
does not apply with respect to any relationship between two 
people who are married to each other. 
‘‘(b) A Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, offi-
cer, or employee of the House may not engage in unwelcome 
sexual advances or conduct towards another Member, Dele-
gate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the 
House. 
‘‘(c) In this clause, the term ‘employee’ includes an ap-
plicant for employment, a paid or unpaid intern (including an 
applicant for an internship), a detailee, and an individual 
participating in a fellowship program.’’. 
SEC. 7. EFFECT OF INITIATION OF PROCEEDINGS UNDER CON-
GRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1995 ON 
AUTHORITY OF OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ETH-
ICS TO CONSIDER ALLEGATIONS. 
The Office of Congressional Ethics may not initiate or 
continue any investigation of an allegation of a violation of 
law made applicable to employing offices of the House of 
Representatives under part A of title II of the Congressional 
Accountability Act of 1995, or make any recommendations 
regarding such an allegation, if a covered employee initiates
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proceedings with respect to the alleged violation under title 
IV of such Act. 
Attest: 
Clerk.