I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5052 
To create a national commission to combat workplace sexual harassment, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 17, 2021 
Ms. NORTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To create a national commission to combat workplace sexual 
harassment, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘National Commission 
to Combat Workplace Sexual Harassment Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established a commission to be known as the 
‘‘National Commission to Combat Workplace Sexual Har-
assment’’ (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’). 
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SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. 
The Commission shall— 
(1) carry out a comprehensive investigation and 
study of workplace sexual harassment in the United 
States— 
(A) through hearings and testimony taken 
from— 
(i) workers, employers, and contrac-
tors in the United States, including in such 
industries and places of work as hospi-
tality, factories, offices, agriculture, food 
service, retail, news media, technology, 
banking, entertainment, and law enforce-
ment regarding their experiences with sex-
ual harassment, sexual assault, and other 
sexual misconduct in the workplace; 
(ii) experts in employment discrimina-
tion and sex discrimination, including sex-
ual harassment; 
(iii) members of the public; and 
(iv) advocates against employment 
discrimination and sex discrimination, in-
cluding sexual harassment; and 
(B) which shall— 
(i) summarize findings from the testi-
mony of workers, employers, experts, pub-
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lic witnesses, and advocates, mentioned in 
paragraph (A) about sexual harassment, 
sexual assault, and other sexual mis-
conduct in the workplace, including retalia-
tion for reporting such conduct; 
(ii) include an assessment of the 
causes and effects of workplace sexual har-
assment, sexual assault, and other sexual 
misconduct in the workplace; 
(iii) evaluate whether and how per-
sonal characteristics (such as race, gender, 
gender identity, sexual orientation, age, in-
come and wealth, geographic location) or 
employment circumstances (such as self 
employment, contract, seasonal, perma-
nent, night shift, ‘‘gig’’ economy) render 
individuals more vulnerable to sexual har-
assment, sexual assault, and other sexual 
misconduct in the workplace; 
(iv) evaluate whether and how new 
forms of communication, such as social 
media, have had an effect on sexual har-
assment, sexual assault, and other sexual 
misconduct in the workplace; 
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(v) analyze whether and how sexual 
harassment, sexual assault, and other sex-
ual misconduct in the workplace have in-
creased in the United States despite Fed-
eral, State, and local legislation aimed at 
curbing such conduct; 
(vi) evaluate whether and how report-
ing occurs about sexual harassment, sexual 
assault, and other sexual misconduct in the 
workplace, and whether and how that re-
porting is impacted by individuals’ per-
sonal characteristics or employment cir-
cumstances; 
(vii) evaluate the efficacy of current 
reporting and accountability mechanisms 
in the private and public sector; 
(viii) analyze the causes and effects of 
unreported and underreported sexual har-
assment, sexual assault, and other sexual 
misconduct in the workplace, and any dis-
parities between complaints reported and 
claims resolved on the merits through 
mechanisms in the public and private sec-
tor; and 
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(ix) include a review of private sector, 
State, and local policies and practices that 
have had an effect in addressing and pre-
venting sexual harassment, sexual assault, 
and other sexual misconduct in the work-
place, and enforcing prohibitions against 
such conduct; and 
(2) not later than 18 months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act— 
(A) submit to the President and the Con-
gress a comprehensive report of the Commis-
sion’s findings and conclusions, together with 
any recommendations of the Commission to 
combat sexual harassment, sexual assault, and 
other sexual misconduct in the workplace; and 
(B) conduct a hearing on the Commission’s 
report and recommendations. 
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission 
shall be composed of 11 members, at least 6 of whom shall 
be women, appointed not later than 45 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, as follows: 
(1) The majority leader and minority leader of 
the Senate shall each appoint two members. 
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(2) The Speaker and the minority leader of the 
House of Representatives shall each appoint two 
members. 
(3) The President shall appoint three members. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—Each person nominated to the 
Commission shall be knowledgeable on sexual harassment, 
sexual assault, or other sexual misconduct or related dis-
crimination in the workplace. 
(c) TERMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each member shall be ap-
pointed for the life of the Commission. 
(2) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy shall not affect 
the power and duties of the Commission, but shall 
be filled in the same manner as the original appoint-
ment and made within 90 days of a vacancy on the 
Commission. 
(d) CHAIRPERSON; VICE CHAIRPERSON.— 
(1) ELECTION.—At the initial meeting, the 
Commission shall select a Chairperson and Vice 
Chairperson from among its members. 
(2) VICE CHAIRPERSON.—The Vice Chairperson 
shall perform the duties of the Chairperson in the 
event the Chairperson is absent, steps down, or dies. 
(e) QUORUM.—Six members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum. 
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(f) COMPENSATION.—Each Member of the Commis-
sion— 
(1) shall not be considered to be a Federal em-
ployee for any purpose by reason of service on the 
Commission; and 
(2) shall serve without pay. 
(g) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each Member of the Com-
mission shall receive travel expenses, including per diem 
in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 
and 5703 of title 5, United States Code, while away from 
their home or regular place of business in performance of 
services for the Commission. 
SEC. 5. POWERS. 
(a) MEETINGS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall meet 
at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of its 
members. 
(2) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Commission shall hold an initial meeting to develop 
and implement a schedule for completion of the 
study, review, and report required under section 3. 
(b) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such 
hearings and undertake such other activities as the Com-
mission determines necessary to carry out its duties. 
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(c) OTHER RESOURCES.— 
(1) DOCUMENTS, 
STATISTICAL
DATA, 
AND 
OTHER SUCH INFORMATION.—The Commission may 
secure directly from any department or agency of 
the United States information necessary to enable it 
to carry out this Act. Upon request of the Chair-
person of the Commission, the head of that depart-
ment or agency shall furnish that information to the 
Commission. 
(2) OFFICE SPACE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUP-
PORT.—The Administrator of General Services shall 
make office space available for day-to-day activities 
of the Commission and for scheduled meetings of the 
Commission. Upon request, the Administrator shall 
provide, on a reimbursable basis, such administrative 
support as the Commission requests to fulfill its du-
ties. 
(d) AUTHORITY TO USE UNITED STATES MAILS.— 
The Commission may use the United States mails in the 
same manner and under the same conditions as other de-
partments and agencies of the United States. 
(e) AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To the extent provided in 
advance in appropriations Acts, the Commission may 
contract with and compensate government and pri-
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vate agencies or persons for the conduct of activities 
necessary to the discharge of its duties under section 
3, without regard to section 6101 of title 41, United 
States Code. 
(2) TERMINATION.—A contract, lease, or other 
legal agreement entered into by the Commission may 
not extend beyond the date of termination of the 
Commission. 
SEC. 6. STAFF. 
(a) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall have a Direc-
tor who shall be appointed and may be removed by a ma-
jority vote of the Commission. The Director shall be paid 
at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay for level IV 
of the Executive Schedule. 
(b) STAFF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director may appoint 
such personnel as the Director determines to be ap-
propriate. Such personnel shall be paid at a rate not 
to exceed the rate of basic pay for level IV of the 
Executive Schedule and may be removed by the Di-
rector, subject to a majority vote of the members of 
the Commission. 
(2) ADDITIONAL STAFF.—The Commission may 
appoint and fix the compensation of such other per-
sonnel as may be necessary to enable the Commis-
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sion to carry out its duties, without regard to the 
provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing 
appointments in the competitive service, and without 
regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and sub-
chapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to 
classification and General Schedule pay rates, except 
that no rate of pay fixed under this subsection may 
exceed the equivalent of that payable to a person oc-
cupying a position at level V of the Executive Sched-
ule. 
(c) EXPERTS
AND CONSULTANTS.—With the ap-
proval of the Commission, the Director may procure tem-
porary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of 
title 5, United States Code. 
(d) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Upon 
the request of the Commission, the head of any Federal 
agency may detail, without reimbursement, any of the per-
sonnel of such agency to the Commission to assist in car-
rying out the duties of the Commission. Any such detail 
shall not interrupt or otherwise affect the civil service sta-
tus or privileges of the personnel. 
(e) VOLUNTEER SERVICES.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Commission 
may accept and use voluntary and uncompensated services 
as the Commission determines necessary. 
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SEC. 7. SUNSET. 
The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 
60 days after the date on which the Commission submits 
its report to Congress pursuant to section 3(2). 
Æ 
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