Providing for Congressional Disapproval of the Rule Submitted By the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Relating to ``Update of Commission's Conciliation Procedures''

Floor Speech

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Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S.J. Res. 13, a resolution to repeal a harmful rule from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that threatens to delay or potentially deny justice for individuals who face workplace discrimination.

As chair of the Education and Labor Committee's Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee, I am pleased to co-lead the House companion to this resolution because far too many workers still experience workplace discrimination. The Civil Rights Act helps workers seek redress by directing the EEOC to engage in conciliation, which provides an opportunity for settlement before going to court.

But the EEOC's new rule added burdensome requirements, and it gives employers unfair advantages in the conciliation process. Under the rule, the EEOC discloses confidential information, analysis, and even the identities of workers to employers, increasing the likelihood of retaliation.

By passing this resolution, we can direct the EEOC to revert to its prior practices, which were upheld by the Supreme Court.

Madam Speaker, I want to note that in the Mach Mining decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015, the Court held that ``Every aspect of the Title VII's conciliation provision smacks of flexibility. To begin with, the EEOC need only to `endeavor' to conciliate a claim, without having to devote a set amount of time or resources to that project.''

We can direct the EEOC to revert to those prior practices that were upheld and that better support the needs of workers.

Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Scott for his leadership, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

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