I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4497 
To amend the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to prohibit the 
use of public funds to pay settlements and awards for workplace harass-
ment and discrimination claims under the Congressional Accountability 
Act of 1995 which arise from acts committed personally by Members 
of Congress, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 30, 2017 
Ms. CASTOR of Florida (for herself and Mr. BACON) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration 
A BILL 
To amend the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to 
prohibit the use of public funds to pay settlements and 
awards for workplace harassment and discrimination 
claims under the Congressional Accountability Act of 
1995 which arise from acts committed personally by 
Members of Congress, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:27 Dec 02, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4497.IH
H4497
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
SECTION 1. PROHIBITING USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO PAY 
SETTLEMENTS AND AWARDS FOR CLAIMS 
UNDER CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY 
ACT OF 1995 WHICH ARISE FROM ACTS COM-
MITTED PERSONALLY BY MEMBERS OF CON-
GRESS. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—Section 415 of the Congressional 
Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1415) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(c)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (c) and (d)’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(d) NO USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PAYMENTS OF 
AWARDS AND SETTLEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH ACTS 
COMMITTED PERSONALLY BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—No funds of the Treasury 
of the United States, including the account described 
in subsection (a), an account of the House of Rep-
resentatives or Senate, or any other account of the 
Federal Government, may be used for the payment 
of an award or settlement in connection with a viola-
tion of section 201(a) if the violation consists of an 
act committed personally by a Member of the House 
of Representatives or a Senator. 
‘‘(2) PERSONAL LIABILITY OF MEMBERS AND 
SENATORS.—A Member of the House of Representa-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:27 Dec 02, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4497.IH
H4497
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
tives or Senator shall be personally liable for the 
payment of an award or settlement described in 
paragraph (1).’’. 
(b) PROHIBITING USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR 
PAYMENTS.—Section 313(b) of the Federal Election Cam-
paign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30114(b)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) PROHIBITING
USE
TO
PAY
AWARDS
OR 
SETTLEMENTS IN CLAIMS BROUGHT AGAINST MEM-
BERS
OF
CONGRESS.—Notwithstanding paragraph 
(2), a contribution or donation shall be considered to 
be converted to personal use if it is used to pay an 
award or settlement in connection with a violation of 
section 201(a) of the Congressional Accountability 
Act of 1995 which consists of an act committed per-
sonally by a Member of the House of Representa-
tives or a Senator.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply with respect to settlements and 
awards paid on or after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:27 Dec 02, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4497.IH
H4497
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION AGAINST USE OF MEMBERS’ REP-
RESENTATIONAL 
ALLOWANCE 
FOR 
PAY-
MENTS IN CONNECTION WITH ALLEGATIONS 
OF VIOLATIONS OF CONGRESSIONAL AC-
COUNTABILITY ACT OF 1995. 
The Members’ Representational Allowance of a Mem-
ber of the House of Representatives may not be used to 
pay awards, settlements, or other compensation in connec-
tion with allegations of any violation of section 201(a) of 
the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 which con-
sists of an act committed personally by the Member. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:27 Dec 02, 2017
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4497.IH
H4497
SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with BILLS