Lobbyist Accountability Act
Bill: H.R.6627 | Sponsor: Rep. Gaetz, Matt (R-FL)
Policy area: Congress

Summary:
Lobbyist Accountability Act
This bill subjects allegations by legislative branch employees that a lobbyist has engaged in sexual harassment or sexual assault to the same administrative and judicial dispute resolution process for allegations of sexual harassment or sexual assault that applies to legislative offices.

To amend the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to require the 
   application of the administrative and judicial dispute-resolution 
     procedures to registered lobbyists for claims alleging sexual 
         harassment or sexual assault, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Lobbyist Accountability Act''.

SEC. 2. APPLICATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL DISPUTE-RESOLUTION 
              PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN CLAIMS AGAINST REGISTERED 
              LOBBYISTS.

    (a) In General.--Title IV of the Congressional Accountability Act 
of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1401 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:

``SEC. 418. APPLICATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND JUDICIAL DISPUTE-
              RESOLUTION PROCEDURES TO REGISTERED LOBBYISTS.

    ``(a) In General.--With respect to a claim by a covered employee 
alleging sexual harassment or sexual assault by an individual who is a 
registered lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 
1601 et seq.), the lobbying firm (as such term is defined in section 3 
of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1602)) that employs such registered lobbyist 
shall be deemed an employing office for the purpose of the application 
of the procedures under this title for the consideration of any such 
claim.
    ``(b) Remedy.--The remedy with respect to an allegation described 
in subsection (a) shall be--
            ``(1) such remedy as would be appropriate if awarded under 
        section 706(g) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 
        2000e-5(g)); and
            ``(2) such compensatory damages as would be appropriate if 
        awarded under section 1977 of the Revised Statutes (42 U.S.C. 
        1981), or as would be appropriate if awarded under sections 
        1977A(a)(1), 1977A(b)(2), and, irrespective of the size of the 
        employing office, 1977A(b)(3)(D) of the Revised Statutes (42 
        U.S.C. 1981a(a)(1), 1981a(b)(2), and 1981a(b)(3)(D)).
    ``(c) Reimbursement for Payment of Award or Settlement.--If a 
payment is made from the account described in section 415(a) for an 
award or settlement in connection with a claim described in subsection 
(a), the lobbying firm that employs such individual shall reimburse the 
account for the amount of the award or settlement for the claim 
involved.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Filing and review of claims.--Section 401 of the 
        Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1401) is 
        amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ``or an 
                allegation described in section 418(a)'' after ``part A 
                of title II''; and
                    (B) in subsection (e), by inserting ``or an 
                allegation described in section 418(a)'' after ``the 
                consideration of an alleged violation of part A of 
                title II''.
            (2) Initiation of procedures.--Section 402(a)(1) of the 
        Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1402(a)(1)) 
        is amended by inserting ``or an allegation described in section 
        418(a)'' after ``under part A of title II''.
            (3) Judicial review.--Section 407(a)(1)(A) of the 
        Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 
        1407(a)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting ``or an allegation 
        described in section 418(a)'' after ``arising under part A of 
        title II''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 417 the 
following new item:

``Sec. 418. Application of administrative and judicial dispute-
                            resolution procedures to registered 
                            lobbyists.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--This section and the amendments made by this 
section shall apply to any claims filed or payments made on or after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
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