I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5565 
To require a study of Federal agencies to determine which Federal agencies 
have the greatest impact on women’s participation in the workforce. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 18, 2018 
Mrs. LAWRENCE (for herself, Ms. NORTON, Ms. MOORE, Ms. LEE, Mr. 
GOMEZ, Mr. GARAMENDI, Mr. COOPER, Ms. TITUS, Mr. SEAN PATRICK 
MALONEY of New York, Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. DESAULNIER, Mr. 
RASKIN, Ms. BASS, Mr. BROWN of Maryland, Ms. CLARKE of New York, 
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. VEASEY, Mr. AL 
GREEN of Texas, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, and Ms. 
CLARK of Massachusetts) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
A BILL 
To require a study of Federal agencies to determine which 
Federal agencies have the greatest impact on women’s 
participation in the workforce. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Women’s Equality 
Workforce Oversight Act’’ or the ‘‘WE Work Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. G.A.O. STUDY. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—Not later than 6 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and every year 
thereafter, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall conduct a study of Federal agencies to determine 
which agencies have the greatest impact on women’s par-
ticipation in the workforce, and evaluate the impact of 
these agencies. 
(b) SUGGESTED AGENCIES.—Such agencies shall in-
clude, at a minimum— 
(1) the Department of Labor, specifically the 
Women’s Bureau at such Department; 
(2) the Department of Transportation; 
(3) the Small Business Administration, includ-
ing the Office of Women’s Business Ownership; and 
(4) any apprenticeship program that receives 
funding from a Federal agency. 
SEC. 3. CONTENTS OF STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The study required by section 2 
shall review and evaluate the following factors, for those 
agencies that the Comptroller General has identified as 
having the greatest impact on women’s participation in the 
workforce, including the following: 
(1) POLICIES
AND
PROCEDURES.—The study 
shall examine— 
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(A) each agency’s policies and procedures 
related to improving women’s participation in 
the workforce, including efforts related to fair 
compensation, benefits, such as paid leave and 
workplace supports for pregnancy and families, 
participation in non-traditional and higher-pay-
ing jobs, enforcement of workplace rights, and 
prevention of sexual and other harassment; 
(B) each agency’s compliance with its stat-
utory and regulatory requirements on these 
matters; 
(C) any policy changes in the agency with-
in the study period, and the reasoning for such 
changes; and 
(D) any procedural changes to the agency’s 
reporting and participation within the agency. 
(2) IMPACT.—The study shall also examine— 
(A) the number of women who received 
technical assistance, grants, loans, contracts, 
and other services from the agency in each fis-
cal year, and the number of such individuals 
who received these services in the prior five fis-
cal years; 
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(B) the number of organizations who re-
ceived such outreach, services, and other en-
gagement with the agency; 
(C) the extent of the agency’s outreach 
and public education efforts for women, includ-
ing the publication of reports and statistics, 
public announcement of enforcement actions, 
and regional outreach engaging local stake-
holders; 
(3) APPROPRIATIONS AND STAFF.—The study 
shall consider— 
(A) any reductions to appropriations and 
obligations for each agency and the actual and 
projected impact of these reductions; and 
(B) any staff reductions in each agency, 
including attrition, vacancies, and positions 
eliminated and the impact of these changes. 
(b) ANALYSIS.—The study shall also include an anal-
ysis of the specific barriers to women’s participation in 
the workforce, including an assessment of further opportu-
nities to reduce those barriers. 
SEC. 4. REPORT. 
A report containing the results of the study and anal-
ysis shall be transmitted annually to the Committees on 
Oversight and Government Reform and Education and the 
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Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittees on Homeland Security and Government Affairs 
and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the Senate. 
Æ 
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