Mucarsel-Powell and Colleagues Introduce Sweeping Legislation to Address Harassment in the Workplace

Statement

Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26), chair of the Hispanic Caucus Women's Taskforce, introduced with her colleagues the Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination (Be HEARD) in the Workplace Act, legislation that takes critical steps to ensure businesses have more resources to prevent harassment and workers have more support when they seek accountability and justice. Be HEARD is the first comprehensive bill addressing workplace harassment and sexual assault following the #MeToo movement that emerged in 2017. It sends a clear message to those who think they can get away with assault or harassment on the job: your time is up.

"The BE HEARD Act strengthens worker's rights across America by expanding anti-workplace harassment laws to include employers with more than fifteen employees, tipped workers, contractors, volunteers, and interns", said Mucarsel-Powell. "Additionally, it prevents LGBTQ+ workplace discrimination and ensures workers aren't forced to give up their right to file harassment claims. It shouldn't matter what you look like, whom you love, your seniority in the workplace, whether you are salaried or a tipped employee, every American must have the right to dignified employment."

Mucarsel-Powell was joined by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Reps. Katherine Clark (MA-5), Ayanna Pressley (MA-7), and Elissa Slotkin (MI-8) in introducing the bill.

"No matter who you are or where you work--whether you are the only woman on the board, or a janitor, or farm worker, you should be treated fairly, respectfully, and with dignity. This should be true no matter your gender or race, your religion or sexual orientation or age--and regardless of whether you have a disability or are a veteran." said Murray. "For far too long and for far too many people in our country this hasn't been true. So today, I'm proud to be standing up to fight for change and make clear that time is up."

"Today, we're saying time's up: no more silence, no more compliance", said Clark. "We are balancing the scale that has been tipped toward the wealthy, the well-connected and the powerful for far too long. The Be Heard Act will put long-overdue protections and accountability into law and remove barriers to justice."

"Our bill will put us one step closer to making toxic workplace harassment and discrimination a dark memory of the past," said Pressley. "This is for the brave women of the Boston Fire Department, the hotel workers I worked alongside when I was scraping money together to help my family, the transgender men and women who face discrimination for living their truth. This is for those workers who shared their stories and instead of justice, faced retaliation. Now is the time to push the conversations and the policies so that those who have been suffering in silence feel seen and represented in our democracy."

"Our national conversation about sexual harassment is long overdue. For too long, women across industries and backgrounds have been unable to come forward to report harassment, or have been met with obstacles and retaliation for demanding their right to work free of harassment or discrimination," said Slotkin. "I'm so proud to stand alongside my colleagues and survivors to help introduce the Be HEARD Act to update our laws and provide workers more tools to stay safe in the workplace -- and help change the leadership climate and culture that has for too long tolerated harassment and abuse."

At the press conference, survivors and advocates shared their personal stories about workplace assault and harassment, and leaders from the National Women's Law Center (NWLC), The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) spoke about the importance of Be HEARD.