I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4822 
To amend the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to reform the proce-
dures provided under such Act for the initiation, investigation, and reso-
lution of claims alleging that employing offices of the legislative branch 
have violated the rights and protections provided to their employees 
under such Act, including protections against sexual harassment, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 18, 2018 
Mr. HARPER (for himself, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. RODNEY DAVIS 
of Illinois, Ms. LOFGREN, Mrs. COMSTOCK, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. WALKER, 
Mr. SMITH of Nebraska, Mr. LOUDERMILK, Mr. BYRNE, Ms. SPEIER, 
Mr. DEUTCH, and Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in 
addition to the Committees on Ethics, Oversight and Government Re-
form, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined 
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to 
reform the procedures provided under such Act for the 
initiation, investigation, and resolution of claims alleging 
that employing offices of the legislative branch have vio-
lated the rights and protections provided to their employ-
ees under such Act, including protections against sexual 
harassment, and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES IN ACT; TABLE OF 
CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act’’. 
(b) REFERENCES IN ACT.—Except as otherwise ex-
pressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment is 
expressed in terms of an amendment to or repeal of a sec-
tion or other provision, the reference shall be considered 
to be made to that section or other provision of the Con-
gressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301 et 
seq.). 
(c) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; references in Act; table of contents. 
TITLE I—REFORM OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEDURES 
Subtitle A—Reform of Procedures for Initiation, Investigation, and Resolution 
of Claims 
Sec. 101. Description of procedures available for consideration of alleged viola-
tions. 
Sec. 102. Reform of process for initiation of procedures. 
Sec. 103. Investigation of claims by General Counsel. 
Sec. 104. Availability of mediation during investigations. 
Subtitle B—Other Reforms 
Sec. 111. Requiring Members of Congress to reimburse Treasury for amounts 
paid as settlements and awards in cases of acts committed per-
sonally by Members. 
Sec. 112. Automatic referral to congressional ethics committees of disposition 
of certain claims alleging violations of Congressional Account-
ability Act of 1995 involving Members of Congress. 
Sec. 113. Availability of remote work assignment or paid leave of absence dur-
ing pendency of procedures. 
Sec. 114. Modification of rules on confidentiality of proceedings. 
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Sec. 115. Reimbursement by other employing offices of legislative branch of 
payments of certain awards and settlements. 
TITLE II—IMPROVING OPERATIONS OF OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE 
Sec. 201. Semiannual reports on claims, awards, and settlements. 
Sec. 202. Workplace climate surveys of employing offices. 
Sec. 203. Record retention. 
Sec. 204. GAO study of management practices. 
Sec. 205. GAO audit of cybersecurity. 
TITLE III—MISCELLANEOUS REFORMS 
Sec. 301. Extension to unpaid staff of rights and protections against employ-
ment discrimination. 
Sec. 302. Coverage of employees of Library of Congress. 
Sec. 303. Clarification of coverage of employees of Helsinki and China Commis-
sions. 
Sec. 304. Training and education programs of other employing offices. 
Sec. 305. Renaming Office of Compliance as Office of Congressional Workplace 
Rights. 
TITLE IV—HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REFORMS 
Sec. 401. Mandatory anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies for 
House offices. 
Sec. 402. Office of Employee Advocacy. 
Sec. 403. Functions of Office of House Employment Counsel. 
Sec. 404. Requiring inclusion of certifications on payroll authorization forms of 
House of Representatives of no connection between payroll ac-
tions and claims relating to Congressional Accountability Act 
of 1995. 
Sec. 405. Sexual harassment as violation of House Code of Official Conduct. 
Sec. 406. Sexual relationships between House Members and employees and un-
welcome sexual advances as violation of House Code of Official 
Conduct. 
Sec. 407. Effect of filing of claim under Congressional Accountability Act of 
1995 on authority of Office of Congressional Ethics to consider 
claims. 
Sec. 409. Exercise of rulemaking authority. 
TITLE V—EFFECTIVE DATE 
Sec. 501. Effective date. 
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TITLE I—REFORM OF DISPUTE 
RESOLUTION PROCEDURES 
Subtitle A—Reform of Procedures 
for Initiation, Investigation, and 
Resolution of Claims 
SEC. 101. DESCRIPTION OF PROCEDURES AVAILABLE FOR 
CONSIDERATION OF ALLEGED VIOLATIONS. 
(a) PROCEDURES
DESCRIBED.—Section 401 (2 
U.S.C. 1401) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 401. PROCEDURE FOR CONSIDERATION OF ALLEGED 
VIOLATIONS. 
‘‘(a) FILING AND INVESTIGATION OF CLAIMS.—Ex-
cept as otherwise provided, the procedure for consideration 
of an alleged violation of part A of title II consists of— 
‘‘(1) the filing of a claim by the covered em-
ployee alleging the violation, as provided in section 
402; 
‘‘(2) an investigation of the claim, to be con-
ducted by the General Counsel as provided in section 
403; and 
‘‘(3) a formal hearing as provided in section 
405, subject to Board review as provided in section 
406, and judicial review in the United States Court 
of Appeals for the Federal Circuit as provided in 
section 407, but only if, pursuant to an investigation 
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conducted by the General Counsel as provided in 
section 403, the General Counsel finds either— 
‘‘(A) that there is reasonable cause to be-
lieve that the employing office involved com-
mitted a violation of part A of title II as alleged 
in the covered employee’s claim; or 
‘‘(B) that the General Counsel cannot de-
termine whether or not there is reasonable 
cause to believe that the employing office com-
mitted a violation of part A of title II as alleged 
in the covered employee’s claim. 
‘‘(b) RIGHT
OF EMPLOYEE TO FILE CIVIL AC-
TION.— 
‘‘(1) CIVIL ACTION.—A covered employee who 
files a claim as provided in section 402 may, during 
the period described in paragraph (3), file a civil ac-
tion in a District Court of the United States with 
respect to the alleged violation involved, as provided 
in section 408. 
‘‘(2) EFFECT OF FILING CIVIL ACTION.—Not-
withstanding paragraph (2) or paragraph (3) of sub-
section (a), if the covered employee files such a civil 
action— 
‘‘(A) the investigation of the claim by the 
General Counsel as provided in section 403, or 
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any subsequent formal hearing as provided in 
section 405, shall terminate upon the filing of 
the action by the covered employee; and 
‘‘(B) the procedure for consideration of the 
alleged violation shall not include any further 
investigation of the claim by the General Coun-
sel as provided in section 403 or any subse-
quent formal hearing as provided in section 
405. 
‘‘(3) PERIOD FOR FILING CIVIL ACTION.—The 
period described in this paragraph with respect to a 
claim is the 30-day period which begins on the date 
the covered employee files the claim under section 
402. 
‘‘(4) SPECIAL RULE FOR EMPLOYEES RECEIV-
ING FINDING OF NO REASONABLE CAUSE UNDER IN-
VESTIGATION
BY
GENERAL
COUNSEL.—Notwith-
standing paragraph (3), if a covered employee re-
ceives a written notice from the General Counsel 
under section 403(c)(3) that the employee has the 
right to file a civil action with respect to the claim 
in accordance with section 408, the covered employee 
may file the civil action not later than 90 days after 
receiving such written notice. 
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‘‘(c) SPECIAL RULE FOR ARCHITECT OF THE CAP-
ITOL AND CAPITOL POLICE.—In the case of an employee 
of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol or of the Cap-
itol Police, the Office, after receiving a claim filed under 
section 402, may recommend that the employee use the 
grievance procedures of the Architect of the Capitol or the 
Capitol Police for resolution of the employee’s grievance 
for a specific period of time. 
‘‘(d) RIGHTS
OF PARTIES TO RETAIN PRIVATE 
COUNSEL.—Nothing in this title may be construed to limit 
the authority of any individual, including a covered em-
ployee, the head of an employing office, or an individual 
who is alleged to have personally committed an act which 
consists of a violation of part A of title II to retain counsel 
to protect the interests of the individual at any point dur-
ing any of the procedures provided under this title for the 
consideration of an alleged violation of part A of title II, 
including as provided under section 415(d)(7) with respect 
to Members of the House of Representatives and Senators. 
‘‘(e) STANDARDS FOR COUNSEL PROVIDING REP-
RESENTATION.—Any counsel who represents a party in 
any of the procedures provided under this title shall have 
an obligation to ensure that, to the best of the counsel’s 
knowledge, information, and belief, as formed after an in-
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quiry which is reasonable under the circumstances, each 
of the following is correct: 
‘‘(1) No pleading, written motion, or other 
paper is presented for any improper purpose, such 
as to harass, cause unnecessary delay, or needlessly 
increase the cost of resolution of the matter. 
‘‘(2) The claims, defenses, and other legal con-
tentions the counsel advocates are warranted by ex-
isting law or by a nonfrivolous argument for extend-
ing, modifying, or reversing existing law or for es-
tablishing new law. 
‘‘(3) The factual contentions have evidentiary 
support or, if specifically so identified, will likely 
have evidentiary support after a reasonable oppor-
tunity for further investigation or discovery. 
‘‘(4) The denials of factual contentions are war-
ranted on the evidence or, if specifically so identi-
fied, are reasonably based on belief or a lack of in-
formation.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT RELATING TO CIVIL 
ACTION.—Section 408 (2 U.S.C. 1408) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘section 404’’ and inserting 
‘‘section 401’’; 
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‘‘(d) DEADLINE.—A covered employee may not file 
a claim under this section with respect to an allegation 
of a violation of law after the expiration of the 180-day 
period which begins on the date of the alleged violation. 
‘‘(e) NO EFFECT
ON ABILITY
OF COVERED EM-
PLOYEE TO SEEK INFORMATION FROM OFFICE OR PUR-
SUE RELIEF.—Nothing in this section may be construed 
to limit the ability of a covered employee— 
‘‘(1) to contact the Office or any other appro-
priate office prior to filing a claim under this section 
to seek information regarding the employee’s rights 
under this Act and the procedures available under 
this title; 
‘‘(2) in the case of a covered employee of an 
employing office of the House of Representatives or 
Senate, to refer information regarding an alleged 
violation of part A of title II to the Committee on 
Ethics of the House of Representatives or the Select 
Committee on Ethics of the Senate (as the case may 
be); or 
‘‘(3) to file a civil action in accordance with sec-
tion 401(b).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
is amended by amending the item relating to section 402 
to read as follows: 
‘‘Sec. 402. Initiation of procedures.’’. 
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SEC. 103. INVESTIGATION OF CLAIMS BY GENERAL COUN-
SEL. 
(a) INVESTIGATIONS
DESCRIBED.—Title IV (2 
U.S.C. 1401 et seq.), as amended by section 101(b), is 
further amended by inserting after section 402 the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 403. INVESTIGATION OF CLAIMS. 
‘‘(a) INVESTIGATION.—Upon the completion of the 
initial processing of a claim under section 402(b), the Gen-
eral Counsel shall conduct an investigation of the claim 
involved. 
‘‘(b) SUBPOENAS.—To carry out an investigation 
under this section, the General Counsel may issue sub-
poenas in the same manner, and subject to the same terms 
and conditions, as a hearing officer may issue subpoenas 
to carry out discovery with respect to a hearing under sec-
tion 405, except that the General Counsel may issue such 
a subpoena on the General Counsel’s own initiative, with-
out regard to whether or not a party requests that the 
General Counsel issue the subpoena. It is the sense of 
Congress that the General Counsel should issue subpoenas 
under this subsection only to the extent that other meth-
ods of obtaining information with respect to an investiga-
tion are insufficient to enable the General Counsel to con-
clude the investigation within the deadline described in 
subsection (e). 
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‘‘(c) REPORT; FINDINGS.— 
‘‘(1) REPORT.—Upon concluding an investiga-
tion of a claim under this section, the General Coun-
sel shall transmit a written report on the results of 
the investigation to the covered employee and the 
employing office involved. 
‘‘(2) INCLUSION
OF
FINDINGS.—The General 
Counsel shall include in the report transmitted 
under paragraph (1) one of the following findings: 
‘‘(A) A finding that there is reasonable 
cause to believe that the employing office com-
mitted a violation of part A of title II, as al-
leged in the covered employee’s claim. 
‘‘(B) A finding that there is no reasonable 
cause to believe that the employing office com-
mitted a violation of part A of title II, as al-
leged in the covered employee’s claim. 
‘‘(C) A finding that the General Counsel 
cannot determine whether or not there is rea-
sonable cause to believe that the employing of-
fice committed a violation of part A of title II, 
as alleged in the covered employee’s claim. 
‘‘(3) NOTICE
OF
RIGHT
TO
FILE
CIVIL
AC-
TION.—If the General Counsel transmits a finding 
under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2), the Gen-
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eral Counsel shall also transmit to the covered em-
ployee a written notice that the employee has the 
right to file a civil action with respect to the claim 
under section 408. 
‘‘(4) TRANSMISSION
TO
EXECUTIVE
DIREC-
TOR.—If the General Counsel transmits a finding 
under subparagraph (A) or subparagraph (C) of 
paragraph (2), the General Counsel shall also trans-
mit the report to the Executive Director. 
‘‘(5) TRANSMISSION OF REPORT ON INVESTIGA-
TION OF CERTAIN CLAIMS TO CONGRESSIONAL ETH-
ICS COMMITTEES.—In the case of a report furnished 
under paragraph (1) on the results of an investiga-
tion of a claim alleging a violation of section 201(a) 
which consists of an act committed personally by a 
Member of the House of Representatives (including 
a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Con-
gress) or a Senator, the General Counsel shall trans-
mit the report to— 
‘‘(A) the Committee on Ethics of the 
House of Representatives, in the case of a 
Member of the House (including a Delegate or 
Resident Commissioner to the Congress); or 
‘‘(B) the Select Committee on Ethics of 
the Senate, in the case of a Senator. 
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‘‘(d) RECOMMENDATION
OF MEDIATION.—At any 
time during the investigation of a claim under this section, 
the General Counsel may make a recommendation that the 
covered employee and the employing office pursue medi-
ation under section 404 with respect to the claim. 
‘‘(e) DEADLINE FOR CONCLUDING INVESTIGATION.— 
The General Counsel shall conclude the investigation of 
a claim under this subsection, and transmit the report on 
the results of the investigation, not later than 90 days 
after the claim is filed under section 402, except that the 
General Counsel may (upon notice to the parties to the 
investigation) use an additional period of not to exceed 
30 days to conclude the investigation.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS
RELATING
TO 
HEARINGS CONDUCTED BY OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE.— 
Section 405 (2 U.S.C. 1405) is amended as follows: 
(1) In the heading, by striking ‘‘COMPLAINT 
AND’’. 
(2) By amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT
FOR
OFFICE
TO
CONDUCT 
HEARINGS.— 
‘‘(1) HEARING REQUIRED UPON CERTAIN FIND-
INGS BY GENERAL COUNSEL.— 
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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If the General Coun-
sel transmits to the Executive Director a report 
on the investigation of a claim under section 
403 which includes a finding described in sub-
paragraph (B), the Office shall conduct a hear-
ing to consider the claim and render a decision. 
‘‘(B) FINDINGS
DESCRIBED.—A finding 
described in this subparagraph is— 
‘‘(i) 
a 
finding 
under 
section 
403(c)(2)(A) that there is reasonable cause 
to believe that an employing office com-
mitted a violation of part A of title II, as 
alleged in a claim filed by a covered em-
ployee; or 
‘‘(ii) 
a 
finding 
under 
section 
403(c)(2)(C) that the General Counsel 
cannot determine whether or not there is 
reasonable cause to believe that the em-
ploying office committed a violation of part 
A of title II, as alleged in the covered em-
ployee’s claim.’’. 
(3) In subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘com-
plaint’’ and inserting ‘‘claim’’. 
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(4) In subsection (d) in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘complaint’’ and inserting 
‘‘claim’’. 
(5) In subsection (d)(2), by striking ‘‘no later 
than 60 days after filing of the complaint’’ and in-
serting ‘‘no later than 60 days after the Executive 
Director receives the General Counsel’s report on the 
investigation of the claim’’. 
(6) In subsection (g), by striking ‘‘complaint’’ 
and inserting ‘‘claim’’. 
(c) OTHER CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The head-
ing of section 414 (2 U.S.C. 1414) is amended by striking 
‘‘OF COMPLAINTS’’. 
(d) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents, 
as amended by section 101(c), is further amended as fol-
lows: 
(1) By inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 402 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 403. Investigation of claims.’’. 
(2) By amending the item relating to section 
405 to read as follows: 
‘‘Sec. 405. Hearing.’’. 
(3) By amending the item relating to section 
414 to read as follows: 
‘‘Sec. 414. Settlement.’’. 
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SEC. 104. AVAILABILITY OF MEDIATION DURING INVES-
TIGATIONS. 
(a) OPTION
TO
REQUEST
MEDIATION.—Section 
404(a) (2 U.S.C. 1404(a)), as redesignated by section 
101(c), is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) AVAILABILITY OF MEDIATION DURING INVES-
TIGATION.—At any time during the investigation of a cov-
ered employee’s claim under section 403, the covered em-
ployee and the employing office may jointly file a request 
for mediation with the Office.’’. 
(b) PERIOD OF MEDIATION.—The second sentence of 
section 404(c) (2 U.S.C. 1404(c)), as redesignated by sec-
tion 101(c), is amended to read as follows: ‘‘The mediation 
period may be extended for one additional period of 30 
days at the joint request of the covered employee and em-
ploying office.’’. 
(c) REQUIRING PARTIES TO BE SEPARATED DURING 
MEDIATION
AT
REQUEST
OF
EMPLOYEE.—Section 
404(b)(2) (2 U.S.C. 1404(b)(2)), as redesignated by sec-
tion 101(c), is amended by striking ‘‘meetings with the 
parties separately or jointly’’ and inserting ‘‘meetings with 
the parties during which, at the request of the covered 
employee, the parties shall be separated,’’. 
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Subtitle B—Other Reforms 
SEC. 111. REQUIRING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO REIM-
BURSE TREASURY FOR AMOUNTS PAID AS 
SETTLEMENTS AND AWARDS IN CASES OF 
ACTS COMMITTED PERSONALLY BY MEM-
BERS. 
(a) MANDATING
REIMBURSEMENT
OF
AMOUNTS 
PAID.—Section 415 (2 U.S.C. 1415) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) REIMBURSEMENT BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS 
OF AMOUNTS PAID AS SETTLEMENTS AND AWARDS.— 
‘‘(1) REIMBURSEMENT REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN 
VIOLATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If a payment is made 
from the account described in subsection (a) for 
an award or settlement in connection with a 
claim alleging a violation described in subpara-
graph (B) which consists of an act committed 
personally by an individual who, at the time of 
committing the act, was a Member of the 
House of Representatives (including a Delegate 
or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) or 
a Senator, the individual shall reimburse the ac-
count for the amount of the award or settle-
ment. 
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‘‘(B) VIOLATIONS
DESCRIBED.—A viola-
tion described in this subparagraph is— 
‘‘(i) a violation of section 201(a); or 
‘‘(ii) a violation of section 207 which 
consists of intimidating, taking reprisal 
against, 
or 
otherwise 
discriminating 
against any covered employee because the 
covered employee has opposed any practice 
made unlawful by section 201(a). 
‘‘(2) WITHHOLDING AMOUNTS FROM SALARY.— 
‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT OF TIMETABLE AND 
PROCEDURES BY COMMITTEES.—For purposes 
of carrying out subparagraph (B), the applica-
ble Committee shall establish a timetable and 
procedures for the withholding of amounts from 
the compensation of an individual who is a 
Member of the House of Representatives or a 
Senator. 
‘‘(B) DEADLINE.—The payroll adminis-
trator shall withhold from an individual’s com-
pensation and transfer to the account described 
in subsection (a) (after transferring any 
amounts to the account of the individual in the 
Thrift Savings Fund) such amounts as may be 
necessary to reimburse the account for the pay-
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ment of an award or settlement described in 
paragraph (1) if the individual has not reim-
bursed the account as required under para-
graph (1) prior to the expiration of the 90-day 
period which begins on the date a payment is 
made from the account for such an award or 
settlement. 
‘‘(C) APPLICABLE COMMITTEE DEFINED.— 
In this paragraph, the ‘applicable Committee’ 
means— 
‘‘(i) the Committee on House Admin-
istration of the House of Representatives, 
in the case of an individual who, at the 
time of the withholding, is a Member of 
the House; or 
‘‘(ii) the Committee on Rules and Ad-
ministration of the Senate, in the case of 
an individual who, at the time of the with-
holding, is a Senator. 
‘‘(3) USE
OF
AMOUNTS
IN
THRIFT
SAVINGS 
FUND AS SOURCE OF REIMBURSEMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If, by the expiration 
of the 180-day period which begins on the date 
a payment is made from the account described 
in subsection (a) for an award or settlement de-
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scribed in paragraph (1), an individual who is 
a Member of the House of Representatives or a 
Senator has not reimbursed the account as re-
quired under paragraph (1), the Executive Di-
rector of the Federal Retirement Thrift Invest-
ment Board shall make a transfer, from the ac-
count of the individual in the Thrift Savings 
Fund to the account described in subsection 
(a), of an amount equal to the award or settle-
ment (reduced by any amount the individual 
has reimbursed, taking into account any 
amounts withheld under paragraph (2)). 
‘‘(B) INITIATION OF TRANSFER.—A trans-
fer under subparagraph (A) shall be initiated by 
a written request to the Executive Director 
from the Secretary of the Treasury in the form 
and manner required by the Executive Director. 
‘‘(4) NOTIFICATION TO OFFICE OF PERSONNEL 
MANAGEMENT
AND
SECRETARY
OF
THE
TREAS-
URY.—If, at the time an individual is first no longer 
receiving compensation as a Member or a Senator, 
the amounts withheld under this subsection have not 
been sufficient to reimburse the account described in 
subsection (a) for an award or settlement described 
in paragraph (1), the payroll administrator— 
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‘‘(A) shall notify the Director of the Office 
of Personnel Management, who shall take such 
actions as the Director considers appropriate to 
withhold from any annuity payable to the indi-
vidual under chapter 83 or chapter 84 of title 
5, United States Code, and transfer to the ac-
count described in subsection (a), such amounts 
as may be necessary to reimburse the account 
for the payment; and 
‘‘(B) shall notify the Secretary of the 
Treasury, who (if necessary), notwithstanding 
section 207 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 407), shall take such actions as the Sec-
retary of the Treasury considers appropriate to 
withhold from any payment to the individual 
under title II of the Social Security Act and 
transfer to the account described in subsection 
(a), such amounts as may be necessary to reim-
burse the account for the payment. 
‘‘(5) 
COORDINATION
BETWEEN
OPM
AND 
TREASURY.—The Director of the Office of Personnel 
Management and the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
carry out paragraph (4) in a manner that ensures 
the coordination of the withholding and transferring 
of amounts under such paragraph, in accordance 
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with regulations promulgated by the Director and 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(6) PAYROLL ADMINISTRATOR DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘payroll administrator’ 
means— 
‘‘(A) in the case of an individual who is a 
Member of the House of Representatives, the 
Chief Administrative Officer of the House of 
Representatives, or an employee of the Office of 
the Chief Administrative Officer who is des-
ignated by the Chief Administrative Officer to 
carry out this subsection; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of an individual who is a 
Senator, the Secretary of the Senate, or an em-
ployee of the Office of the Secretary of the Sen-
ate who is designated by the Secretary to carry 
out this subsection. 
‘‘(7) RIGHT
TO
INTERVENE.—An individual 
who is subject to the reimbursement requirement of 
this subsection shall have the right to intervene in 
any mediation, hearing, or civil action under this 
title to the extent necessary to protect the interests 
of the individual in the determination of whether an 
award or settlement described in paragraph (1) 
should be made, and the amount of any such award 
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or settlement, except that nothing in this paragraph 
may be construed to require the covered employee 
who filed the claim to be deposed by counsel for the 
individual in a deposition which is separate from any 
other deposition taken from the employee in connec-
tion with the hearing or civil action.’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT
RELATING
TO 
THRIFT SAVINGS FUND.—Section 8437(e) of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘or an obliga-
tion’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘an obligation of the Ex-
ecutive Director to make a transfer under section 
415(d)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 
1995, or an obligation’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to payments made 
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 112. AUTOMATIC REFERRAL TO CONGRESSIONAL ETH-
ICS COMMITTEES OF DISPOSITION OF CER-
TAIN 
CLAIMS 
ALLEGING 
VIOLATIONS 
OF 
CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 
1995 INVOLVING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. 
Section 416(e) (2 U.S.C. 1416(d)) is amended to 
read as follows: 
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‘‘(e) AUTOMATIC REFERRALS
TO CONGRESSIONAL 
ETHICS COMMITTEES OF DISPOSITIONS OF CLAIMS IN-
VOLVING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.— 
‘‘(1) REFERRAL.—Upon the final disposition 
under this title of a claim alleging a violation de-
scribed in section 415(d)(1)(B) which consists of an 
act committed personally by a Member of the House 
of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident 
Commissioner to the Congress) or a Senator, the 
Executive Director shall refer the claim to— 
‘‘(A) the Committee on Ethics of the 
House of Representatives, in the case of a 
Member of the House (including a Delegate or 
Resident Commissioner to the Congress); or 
‘‘(B) the Select Committee on Ethics of 
the Senate, in the case of a Senator. 
‘‘(2) ACCESS
TO
RECORDS
AND
INFORMA-
TION.—If the Executive Director refers a claim to a 
Committee under paragraph (1), the Executive Di-
rector shall provide the Committee with access to the 
records of any investigations, hearings, or decisions 
of the hearing officers and the Board under this 
title, and any information relating to an award or 
settlement paid, in response to such claim. 
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‘‘(3) PROTECTION OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFI-
ABLE INFORMATION.—If a Committee to which a 
claim is referred under paragraph (1) issues a report 
with respect to the claim, the Committee shall en-
sure that the report does not directly disclose the 
identity or position of the individual who filed the 
claim. 
‘‘(4) FINAL DISPOSITION DESCRIBED.—In this 
subsection, the ‘final disposition’ of a claim means 
any of the following: 
‘‘(A) An order or agreement to pay an 
award or settlement. 
‘‘(B) A final decision of a hearing officer 
under section 405(g). 
‘‘(C) A final decision of the Board under 
section 406(e). 
‘‘(D) A final decision in a civil action 
under section 408.’’. 
SEC. 113. AVAILABILITY OF REMOTE WORK ASSIGNMENT 
OR PAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE DURING PEND-
ENCY OF PROCEDURES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title IV (2 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 
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‘‘SEC. 417. AVAILABILITY OF REMOTE WORK ASSIGNMENT 
OR PAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE DURING PEND-
ENCY OF PROCEDURES. 
‘‘(a) OPTIONS FOR EMPLOYEES.— 
‘‘(1) REMOTE WORK ASSIGNMENT.—At the re-
quest of a covered employee who files a claim alleg-
ing a violation of part A of title II by the covered 
employee’s employing office, during the pendency of 
any of the procedures available under this title for 
consideration of the claim, the employing office may 
permit the covered employee to carry out the em-
ployee’s responsibilities from a remote location in-
stead of from the location of the employing office. 
‘‘(2) EXCEPTION FOR WORK ASSIGNMENTS RE-
QUIRED TO BE CARRIED OUT ONSITE.—If, in the de-
termination of the covered employee’s employing of-
fice, a covered employee who makes a request under 
this subsection cannot carry out the employee’s re-
sponsibilities from a remote location, the employing 
office may grant paid leave of absence to a covered 
employee during the pendency of the procedures 
available under this title for the covered employee. 
‘‘(3) ENSURING NO RETALIATION.—An employ-
ing office may not grant a covered employee’s re-
quest under this subsection in a manner which 
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would constitute reprisal or retaliation under section 
207. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION FOR ARRANGEMENTS SUBJECT TO 
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS.—Subsection (a) 
does not apply to the extent that it is inconsistent with 
the terms and conditions of any collective bargaining 
agreement which is in effect with respect to an employing 
office.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to 
tile IV the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 417. Availability of remote work assignment or paid leave of absence dur-
ing pendency of procedures.’’. 
SEC. 114. MODIFICATION OF RULES ON CONFIDENTIALITY 
OF PROCEEDINGS. 
(a) CLAIMS AND INVESTIGATIONS.—Section 416(a) 
(2 U.S.C. 1416(a)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) CLAIMS AND INVESTIGATIONS.—The filing of a 
claim under section 402 and any investigation of a claim 
under section 403 shall be confidential. Nothing in this 
subsection may be construed to prohibit a covered em-
ployee or an employing office from disclosing any informa-
tion related to the claim (including information related to 
the defense of the claim) in the course of any proceeding 
under this title.’’. 
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(b) MEDIATION.—Section 416(b) (2 U.S.C. 1416(b)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘All mediation’’ and inserting ‘‘All 
information discussed or disclosed in the course of any me-
diation’’. 
SEC. 115. REIMBURSEMENT BY OTHER EMPLOYING OF-
FICES OF LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF PAY-
MENTS OF CERTAIN AWARDS AND SETTLE-
MENTS. 
(a) REQUIRING REIMBURSEMENT.—Section 415 (2 
U.S.C. 1415), as amended by section 111, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(e) REIMBURSEMENT BY EMPLOYING OFFICES.— 
‘‘(1) NOTIFICATION OF PAYMENTS MADE FROM 
ACCOUNT.—As soon as practicable after the Execu-
tive Director is made aware that a payment of an 
award or settlement under this chapter has been 
made from the account described in subsection (a) 
in connection with a claim alleging a violation of sec-
tion 201(a) by an employing office (other than an 
employing office of the House of Representatives or 
an employing office of the Senate), the Executive 
Director shall notify the head of the employing office 
that the payment has been made, and shall include 
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in the notification a statement of the amount of the 
payment. 
‘‘(2) REIMBURSEMENT BY OFFICE.—Not later 
than 180 days after receiving a notification from the 
Executive Director under paragraph (1), the head of 
the employing office involved shall transfer to the ac-
count described in subsection (a), out of any funds 
available for operating expenses of the office, a pay-
ment equal to the amount specified in the notifica-
tion. 
‘‘(3) TIMETABLE AND PROCEDURES FOR REIM-
BURSEMENT.—The head of an employing office shall 
transfer a payment under paragraph (2) in accord-
ance with such timetable and procedures as may be 
established under regulations promulgated by the 
Office.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to payments made 
under section 415 of the Congressional Accountability Act 
of 1995 on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
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TITLE 
II—IMPROVING 
OPER-
ATIONS OF OFFICE OF COM-
PLIANCE 
SEC. 201. SEMIANNUAL REPORTS ON CLAIMS, AWARDS, AND 
SETTLEMENTS. 
(a) REQUIRING SUBMISSION AND PUBLICATION OF 
REPORTS.—Section 301(h) (2 U.S.C. 1381(h)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(2); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (3) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) in addition to compiling and publishing the 
statistics described in paragraph (3), not later than 
45 days after the first 6-month period of each cal-
endar year, and not later than 45 days after the 
next 6-month period of each calendar year, submit 
to Congress and publish on the Office’s public 
website a report listing each award or settlement 
which was paid during the previous year from the 
account described in section 415(a) as the result of 
a claim alleging a violation of part A of title II, in-
cluding the employing office involved, the amount of 
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the award or settlement, the provision of part A of 
title II which was the subject of the claim, and (in 
the case of an award or settlement resulting from a 
violation described in section 415(d)(1)(B) which 
was committed personally by a Member or former 
Member of Congress), whether the Member or 
former Member has met the requirement of section 
415(d) to reimburse the account for the amount of 
the award or settlement, except that such report 
may not disclose the identity or position of an indi-
vidual who filed the claim.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to 2018 and each 
succeeding year. 
SEC. 202. WORKPLACE CLIMATE SURVEYS OF EMPLOYING 
OFFICES. 
(a) REQUIRING SURVEYS.—Title III (2 U.S.C. 1381 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 307. WORKPLACE CLIMATE SURVEYS OF EMPLOYING 
OFFICES. 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT TO CONDUCT SURVEYS.—Not 
later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 
section, and every 2 years thereafter, the Office shall con-
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duct a survey of employing offices under this Act regard-
ing the workplace environment of such offices. 
‘‘(b) SPECIAL INCLUSION OF INFORMATION ON SEX-
UAL HARASSMENT.—In each survey conducted under this 
section, the Office shall survey respondents on attitudes 
regarding sexual harassment. 
‘‘(c) METHODOLOGY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Office shall conduct 
each survey under this section in accordance with 
methodologies established by the Office. 
‘‘(2) CONFIDENTIALITY.—Under the meth-
odologies established under paragraph (1), all re-
sponses to all portions of the survey shall be anony-
mous and confidential, and each respondent shall be 
told throughout the survey that all responses shall 
be anonymous and confidential. 
‘‘(d) USE OF RESULTS OF SURVEYS.—The Office 
shall furnish the information obtained from the surveys 
conducted under this section to the Committee on House 
Administration of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Af-
fairs of the Senate. 
‘‘(e) CONSULTATION WITH COMMITTEES.—The Of-
fice shall carry out this section, including establishment 
of methodologies and procedures under subsection (c), in 
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consultation with the Committee on House Administration 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Sen-
ate. 
‘‘(f) INCLUSION OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.—For 
purposes of this section, the Library of Congress shall be 
considered an employing office.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to 
title III the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 307. Workplace climate surveys of employing offices.’’. 
SEC. 203. RECORD RETENTION. 
Section 301 (2 U.S.C. 1381) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(l) RECORD RETENTION.—The Office shall establish 
and maintain a program for the permanent retention of 
its records, including the records of investigations, medi-
ations, hearings, and other proceedings conducted under 
title IV.’’. 
SEC. 204. GAO STUDY OF MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study of the management practices 
of the Office of Compliance. 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall submit to Con-
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gress a report on the study conducted under subsection 
(a), and shall include in the report such recommendations 
as the Comptroller General considers appropriate for im-
provements to the management practices of the Office of 
Compliance. 
SEC. 205. GAO AUDIT OF CYBERSECURITY. 
(a) AUDIT.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct an audit of the cybersecurity systems 
and practices of the Office of Compliance. 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall submit to Con-
gress a report on the audit conducted under subsection 
(a), and shall include in the report such recommendations 
as the Comptroller General considers appropriate for im-
provements to the cybersecurity systems and practices of 
the Office of Compliance. 
TITLE III—MISCELLANEOUS 
REFORMS 
SEC. 301. EXTENSION TO UNPAID STAFF OF RIGHTS AND 
PROTECTIONS AGAINST EMPLOYMENT DIS-
CRIMINATION. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Section 201 (2 U.S.C. 1311) is 
amended— 
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(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub-
section (e); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(d) APPLICATION TO UNPAID STAFF.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subsections (a) and (b) 
shall apply with respect to any staff of an employing 
office who carry out official duties of the employing 
office but who are not paid by the employing office 
for carrying out such duties, including an intern (in-
cluding an applicant for an internship and a former 
intern), an individual detailed to an employing office, 
and an individual participating in a fellowship pro-
gram, in the same manner and to the same extent 
as such subsections apply with respect to an em-
ployee. 
‘‘(2) RULE
OF
CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 
paragraph (1) may be construed to extend liability 
for a violation of subsection (a) to an employing of-
fice on the basis of an action taken by any person 
who is not under the supervision or control of the 
employing office. 
‘‘(3) INTERN
DEFINED.—The term ‘intern’ 
means an individual who performs service for an em-
ploying office which is uncompensated by the United 
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States to earn credit awarded by an educational in-
stitution or to learn a trade or occupation, and in-
cludes any individual participating in a page pro-
gram operated by any House of Congress.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL CORRECTION RELATING TO OFFICE 
RESPONSIBLE FOR DISBURSEMENT OF PAY TO HOUSE 
EMPLOYEES.—Section 101(7) (2 U.S.C. 1301(7)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘disbursed by the Clerk of the House 
of Representatives’’ and inserting ‘‘disbursed by the Chief 
Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives’’. 
SEC. 302. COVERAGE OF EMPLOYEES OF LIBRARY OF CON-
GRESS. 
(a) COVERAGE
FOR PURPOSES
OF PROTECTIONS 
AGAINST WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION.—Section 201 (2 
U.S.C. 1311), as amended by section 301(a), is further 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-
section (f); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(e) COVERAGE OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.—For 
purposes of this section— 
‘‘(1) the Library of Congress shall be consid-
ered an employing office; and 
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‘‘(2) the employees of the Library of Congress 
shall be considered covered employees.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT RELATING TO SPE-
CIAL
RULE
FOR
AVAILABLE
PROCEDURES.—Section 
401(c) (2 U.S.C. 1401(c)), as amended by section 101(a), 
is amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘ARCHITECT OF 
THE CAPITOL AND CAPITOL POLICE’’ and inserting 
‘‘ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL, CAPITOL POLICE, 
AND LIBRARY OF CONGRESS’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘the Office of the Architect of 
the Capitol or of the Capitol Police’’ and inserting 
‘‘the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, the Cap-
itol Police, or the Library of Congress’’; and 
(3) by striking ‘‘Architect of the Capitol or the 
Capitol Police’’ and inserting ‘‘Architect of the Cap-
itol, the Capitol Police, or the Library of Congress 
(as the case may be)’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to claims al-
leging violations of part A of title II of the Congres-
sional Accountability Act of 1995 which are first 
made on or after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
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(2) TREATMENT OF PENDING CLAIMS UNDER 
EXISTING PROCEDURES.—If, as of the date of the 
enactment of this Act, an employee of the Library 
of Congress has or could have filed a charge or com-
plaint pursuant to procedures of the Library of Con-
gress which were available to the employee prior to 
such date for the resolution of a claim alleging a vio-
lation of a provision of law made applicable to the 
Library under section 201(a) (including procedures 
applicable pursuant to a collective bargaining agree-
ment), the employee may complete, or initiate and 
complete, all such procedures, and such procedures 
shall remain in effect with respect to, and provide 
the exclusive procedures for, that charge or com-
plaint until the completion of all such procedures. 
SEC. 303. CLARIFICATION OF COVERAGE OF EMPLOYEES 
OF HELSINKI AND CHINA COMMISSIONS. 
(a) CLARIFICATION OF COVERAGE.—Section 101 (2 
U.S.C. 1301) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Except as otherwise’’ and in-
serting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise’’; 
and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
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‘‘(b) CLARIFICATION OF COVERAGE OF EMPLOYEES 
OF CERTAIN COMMISSIONS.— 
‘‘(1) COVERAGE.—With respect to the China 
Review Commission, the Congressional-Executive 
China Commission, and the Helsinki Commission— 
‘‘(A) any individual who is an employee of 
such Commission shall be considered a covered 
employee for purposes of this Act; and 
‘‘(B) the Commission shall be considered 
an employing office for purposes of this Act. 
‘‘(2) AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSIST-
ANCE AND REPRESENTATION.—Subject to paragraph 
(3), legal assistance and representation under this 
Act, including assistance and representation with re-
spect to the proposal or acceptance of the disposition 
of a claim under this Act, shall be provided to the 
China Review Commission, the Congressional-Execu-
tive China Commission, and the Helsinki Commis-
sion— 
‘‘(A) by the House Employment Counsel of 
the House of Representatives, in the case of as-
sistance and representation in connection with a 
claim filed under title IV (including all subse-
quent proceedings under such title in connec-
tion with the claim) at a time when the chair 
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of the Commission is a Member of the House; 
or 
‘‘(B) by the Senate Chief Counsel for Em-
ployment of the Senate, in the case of assist-
ance and representation in connection with a 
claim filed under title IV (including all subse-
quent proceedings under such title in connec-
tion with the claim) at a time when the chair 
of the Commission is a Senator. 
‘‘(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection— 
‘‘(A) the term ‘China Review Commission’ 
means the United States-China Economic and 
Security Review Commission established under 
section 1238 of the Floyd D. Spence National 
Defense Authorization Act of 2001 (Public Law 
106–398; 22 U.S.C. 7002); 
‘‘(B) the term ‘Congressional-Executive 
China Commission’ means the Congressional– 
Executive Commission on the People’s Republic 
of China established under title III of the U.S.– 
China Relations Act of 2000 (Public Law 106– 
286; 22 U.S.C. 6911 et seq.); and 
‘‘(C) the term ‘Helsinki Commission’ 
means the Commission on Security and Co-
operation in Europe established under the Act 
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entitled ‘An Act to establish a Commission on 
Security and Cooperation in Europe’ (Public 
Law 94–304; 22 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.).’’. 
(b) COVERAGE OF STENNIS CENTER.— 
(1) TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES AS COVERED 
EMPLOYEES.—Section 101(3) (2 U.S.C. 1301(3)) is 
amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘or’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (H); 
(B) by striking the period at the end of 
subparagraph (I) and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(J) the John C. Stennis Center for Public 
Service Training and Development.’’. 
(2) TREATMENT OF CENTER AS EMPLOYING OF-
FICE.—Section 101(9)(D) (2 U.S.C. 1301(9)(D)) is 
amended by striking ‘‘and the Office of Technology 
Assessment’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘the Office 
of Technology Assessment, and the John C. Stennis 
Center for Public Service Training and Develop-
ment’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect as if included in the enact-
ment of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995. 
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SEC. 304. TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS OF 
OTHER EMPLOYING OFFICES. 
(a) REQUIRING OFFICES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLE-
MENT PROGRAMS.—Title V (2 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) is 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating section 509 as section 510; 
and 
(2) by inserting after section 508 the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 509. TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS OF EM-
PLOYING OFFICES. 
‘‘(a) REQUIRING OFFICES TO DEVELOP AND IMPLE-
MENT PROGRAMS.—Each employing office shall develop 
and implement a program to train and educate covered 
employees of the office in the rights and protections pro-
vided under this Act, including the procedures available 
under title IV to consider alleged violations of this Act. 
‘‘(b) REPORT TO COMMITTEES.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 45 days 
after the beginning of each Congress (beginning with 
the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress), each employ-
ing office shall submit a report to the Committee on 
House Administration of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Rules and Administra-
tion of the Senate on the implementation of the pro-
gram required under subsection (a). 
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‘‘(2) SPECIAL RULE FOR FIRST REPORT.—Not 
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Re-
form Act, each employing office shall submit the re-
port described in paragraph (1) to the Committees 
described in such paragraph. 
‘‘(c) EXCEPTION FOR OFFICES OF CONGRESS.—This 
section does not apply to an employing office of the House 
of Representatives or an employing office of the Senate.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
is amended— 
(1) by redesignating the item relating to section 
509 as relating to section 510; and 
(2) by inserting after the item relating to sec-
tion 508 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 509. Training and education programs of employing offices.’’. 
SEC. 305. RENAMING OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE AS OFFICE 
OF CONGRESSIONAL WORKPLACE RIGHTS. 
(a) RENAMING.—Section 301 of the Congressional 
Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.) is 
amended— 
(1) in the heading, by striking ‘‘OFFICE OF 
COMPLIANCE’’ and inserting ‘‘OFFICE OF CON-
GRESSIONAL WORKPLACE RIGHTS’’; and 
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(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘Office of 
Compliance’’ and inserting ‘‘Office of Congressional 
Workplace Rights’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS TO CONGRESSIONAL 
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1995.—The Congressional Ac-
countability Act of 1995 is amended as follows: 
(1) In section 101(1) (2 U.S.C. 1301(1)), by 
striking ‘‘Office of Compliance’’ and inserting ‘‘Of-
fice of Congressional Workplace Rights’’. 
(2) In section 101(2) (2 U.S.C. 1301(2)), by 
striking ‘‘Office of Compliance’’ and inserting ‘‘Of-
fice of Congressional Workplace Rights’’. 
(3) 
In 
section 
101(3)(H) 
(2 
U.S.C. 
1301(3)(H)), by striking ‘‘Office of Compliance’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Office of Congressional Workplace 
Rights’’. 
(4) 
In 
section 
101(9)(D) 
(2 
U.S.C. 
1301(9)(D)), by striking ‘‘Office of Compliance’’ and 
inserting 
‘‘Office 
of 
Congressional 
Workplace 
Rights’’. 
(5) In section 101(10) (2 U.S.C. 1301(10)), by 
striking ‘‘Office of Compliance’’ and inserting ‘‘Of-
fice of Congressional Workplace Rights’’. 
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(6) In section 101(11) (2 U.S.C. 1301(11)), by 
striking ‘‘Office of Compliance’’ and inserting ‘‘Of-
fice of Congressional Workplace Rights’’. 
(7) In section 101(12) (2 U.S.C. 1301(12)), by 
striking ‘‘Office of Compliance’’ and inserting ‘‘Of-
fice of Congressional Workplace Rights’’. 
(8) In section 210(a)(9) (2 U.S.C. 1331(a)(9)), 
by striking ‘‘Office of Compliance’’ and inserting 
‘‘Office of Congressional Workplace Rights’’. 
(9) In section 215(e)(1) (2 U.S.C. 1341(e)(1)), 
by striking ‘‘Office of Compliance’’ and inserting 
‘‘Office of Congressional Workplace Rights’’. 
(10) 
In 
section 
220(e)(2)(G) 
(2 
U.S.C. 
1351(e)(2)(G)), by striking ‘‘Office of Compliance’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Office of Congressional Workplace 
Rights’’. 
(11) In the heading of title III, by striking 
‘‘OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE’’ and inserting 
‘‘OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL WORK-
PLACE RIGHTS’’. 
(12) 
In 
section 
304(c)(4) 
(2 
U.S.C. 
1384(c)(4)), by striking ‘‘Office of Compliance’’ and 
inserting 
‘‘Office 
of 
Congressional 
Workplace 
Rights’’. 
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(13) 
In 
section 
304(c)(5) 
(2 
U.S.C. 
1384(c)(5)), by striking ‘‘Office of Compliance’’ and 
inserting 
‘‘Office 
of 
Congressional 
Workplace 
Rights’’. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.—The table of contents 
is amended— 
(1) by amending the item relating to the head-
ing of title III to read as follows: 
‘‘TITLE III—OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL WORKPLACE RIGHTS’’; 
and 
(2) by amending the item relating to section 
301 to read as follows: 
‘‘Sec. 301. Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.’’. 
(d) REFERENCES
IN OTHER LAWS, RULES, AND 
REGULATIONS.—Any reference to the Office of Compli-
ance in any law, rule, regulation, or other official paper 
in effect as of the effective date of this Act shall be consid-
ered to refer and apply to the Office of Congressional 
Workplace Rights. 
TITLE IV—HOUSE OF 
REPRESENTATIVES REFORMS 
SEC. 401. MANDATORY ANTI-HARASSMENT AND ANTI-DIS-
CRIMINATION 
POLICIES 
FOR 
HOUSE 
OF-
FICES. 
(a) REQUIRING OFFICES TO ADOPT POLICY.—Each 
employing office of the House of Representatives shall 
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adopt an anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy 
for the office’s workplace. 
(b) REGULATIONS.—Not later than June 1, 2018, 
the Committee on House Administration shall promulgate 
regulations to carry out this section, and shall ensure that 
such regulations are consistent with the requirements of 
the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, the Code 
of Official Conduct under rule XXIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, and other relevant laws, rules, 
and regulations. 
SEC. 402. OFFICE OF EMPLOYEE ADVOCACY. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Office of the Chief Administrative Officer of the House 
of Representatives the Office of Employee Advocacy (here-
after in this section referred to as the ‘‘Office’’). 
(b) FUNCTIONS.— 
(1) LEGAL ASSISTANCE, CONSULTATION, AND 
REPRESENTATION.—Subject to subsection (c), the 
Office shall carry out the following functions: 
(A) Providing legal assistance and con-
sultation regarding procedures under the Con-
gressional Accountability Act of 1995 and pro-
cedures applicable to civil actions arising from 
claims made under such Act, including— 
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(i) the roles and responsibilities of the 
Office of Compliance, the Office of the 
House Employment Counsel, and similar 
authorities; 
(ii) any proceedings conducted under 
such Act or pursuant to a civil action 
which the employee may observe; 
(iii) the authority of the General 
Counsel of the Office of Compliance to 
compel cooperation and testimony under 
an investigation conducted under section 
403 of such Act and the authority of a 
hearing officer to compel cooperation and 
testimony under proceedings held under 
section 405 of such Act; and 
(iv) the employee’s duties relating to 
such proceedings, including the responsi-
bility to testify. 
(B) Providing legal assistance and rep-
resentation— 
(i) in personal civil legal matters re-
lated to the employee’s claim under such 
Act (other than a civil action filed under 
section 408 of such Act); and 
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(ii) in any proceedings of the Office of 
Compliance, the Committee on Ethics of 
the House of Representatives (including 
the Office of Congressional Ethics), or any 
other administrative or judicial body re-
lated to the employee’s claim. 
(C) Operating a hotline through which cov-
ered employees of the House may contact the 
Office. 
(2) AUTHORITY
TO
PROVIDE
ASSISTANCE
IN 
ANY
JURISDICTION.—Notwithstanding any law re-
garding the licensure of attorneys, an attorney who 
is employed by the Office and is authorized to pro-
vide legal assistance and representation under this 
section is authorized to provide that assistance and 
representation in any jurisdiction, subject to such 
regulations as may be prescribed by the Office. 
(3) NATURE OF RELATIONSHIP.—The relation-
ship between the Office and an employee to whom 
the Office provides legal assistance and representa-
tion under this section shall be the relationship be-
tween an attorney and client. 
(4) PROHIBITING ACCEPTANCE OF AWARD OF 
ATTORNEY FEES OR OTHER COSTS.—The Office may 
not accept any award of attorney fees or other litiga-
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tion expenses and costs under any hearing or civil 
action brought under the Congressional Account-
ability Act of 1995. 
(c) PROHIBITING PROVISION OF ASSISTANCE UPON 
FILING OF CIVIL ACTION.—If a covered employee of the 
House who has filed a claim under section 402 of the Con-
gressional Accountability Act of 1995 files a civil action 
with respect to the claim involved, as provided in section 
408 of such Act, the Office may not provide assistance 
under this section to the employee at any time after the 
employee files such action. 
(d) DIRECTOR.— 
(1) APPOINTMENT.—The Office shall be headed 
by a Director who shall be appointed by the Chief 
Administrative Officer of the House of Representa-
tives. 
(2) QUALIFICATIONS; NONPARTISANSHIP OF PO-
SITION.—The individual appointed as Director shall 
be a lawyer who is admitted to practice before the 
United States District Court for the District of Co-
lumbia and who has experience in representing em-
ployees in workplace discrimination cases. 
(3) COMPENSATION.—The Director shall be 
paid at an annual rate established by the Chief Ad-
ministrative Officer. 
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