Requiring each employing office of the House of Representatives to adopt an anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy for the office's workplace, establishing the Office of Employee Advocacy to provide legal assistance and consultation to employees of the House regarding procedures and proceedings under the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, and for other purposes.

Bill: 115-hres-724
Sponsor: Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3]
Introduced: 2018-02-05 in the House
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses
Civil actions and liability
Congressional committees
Congressional officers and employees
Congressional operations and organization
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
House Committee on House Administration
House of Representatives
Lawyers and legal services
Legislative rules and procedure
Members of Congress
Sex offenses
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2018-02-05
text: 
Requires each employing office of the House of Representatives to adopt an anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy.
 
Establishes the House Office of Employee Advocacy (OEA) to: (1) provide legal assistance to House employees regarding Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) procedures, including those applicable to civil actions; and (2) operate an employee hotline.
 
Prohibits the OEA from: (1) accepting awards of litigation expenses or costs under CAA hearings or civil actions, and (2) providing assistance to an employee after the individual files a civil action.
 
Requires House offices to certify that payroll actions are not connected to CAA awards and settlements, and that the Member's Representational Allowance is not being used for CAA awards or settlements.
 
Amends Rule XXIII (Code of Official Conduct) of the Rules of the House to prohibit: (1) a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House from committing sexual harassment against an individual or engaging in unwelcome sexual advances; and (2) sexual relationships between Members and employees (except between married individuals).
 
Bars the House Office of Congressional Ethics from initiating or continuing any investigation of an allegation of violation under CAA rights and protections, or making any recommendations regarding such an allegation, if the employee initiates proceedings with respect to the alleged violation under CAA administrative and judicial dispute-resolution procedures.

action_date: 2018-02-06
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 
(Sec. 1) Requires each employing office of the House of Representatives to adopt an anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy.
 
Directs the Committee on House Administration, by June, 1, 2018, to promulgate regulations to carry out this resolution and ensure their consistency with requirements of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA), the House Code of Official Conduct, and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations.
 
(Sec. 2) Establishes the House Office of Employee Advocacy (OEA) to: (1) provide legal assistance to House employees regarding CAA procedures, including those applicable to civil actions; and (2) operate an employee hotline.
 
Prohibits the OEA from: (1) accepting awards of litigation expenses or costs under CAA hearings or civil actions, and (2) providing assistance to an employee after the individual files a civil action.
 
(Sec. 3) Requires the Office of the House Employment Counsel to continue carrying out all of its current functions.
 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Chief Administrative Officer of the House to require: (1) House offices to certify on Payroll Authorization Forms of House employees that payroll actions are not connected to CAA awards and settlements, and (2) House Members to certify on such forms that Members' Representational Allowance is not being used for CAA awards or settlements.
 
(Sec. 5) Amends Rule XXIII (Code of Official Conduct) of the Rules of the House to prohibit: (1) a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House from committing sexual harassment or engaging in unwelcome sexual advances; and (2) sexual relationships between Members and employees (except between married individuals).
 
(Sec. 7) Bars the House Office of Congressional Ethics from initiating or continuing any investigation of an allegation of violation under CAA rights and protections, or making recommendations regarding such an allegation, if the employee initiates proceedings regarding the alleged violation under CAA administrative and judicial dispute-resolution procedures.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-02-06
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2018-02-06
text: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H813-814)
action_date: 2018-02-06
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H813-814)
action_date: 2018-02-06
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 724.
action_date: 2018-02-06
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H813-814)
action_date: 2018-02-06
text: Mr. Harper moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.
action_date: 2018-02-05
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Ethics, 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.
action_date: 2018-02-05
text: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Ethics, 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.
action_date: 2018-02-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2018-02-05
text: Introduced in House