Introduction of the National Commission to Combat Workplace Sexual Harassment Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the National Commission to Combat Workplace Sexual Harassment Act to establish a national commission to examine and combat sexual harassment in the U.S. workplace.

I have modeled this bill on legislation Congress has passed to address other national problems considered to be serious, such as gambling. The almost daily exposure of allegations of sexual harassment, including the recent allegations made against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, more than qualifies sexual harassment for national attention and priority. This bill would create a national commission to focus on sexual harassment in major industries and workplaces throughout the United States.

Congress has adopted legislation that addresses harassment in the congressional workplace. It requires Members of the House and Senate to be personally liable for settlements and awards resulting from harassment and retaliation claims, removes mandatory counseling, mediation and ``cooling off'' periods for accusers that had been required, mandates publicly reporting awards and settlements and covers unpaid staff as well. These steps move in the right direction beginning where Congress should--right here in the Congress itself. However, nothing equivalent has been done for sexual harassment that affects the American people. We have largely neglected our own constituents, despite the increasing number of troubling reports in the news of sexual harassment claims.

A national commission would assure the American people that Congress takes sexual harassment affecting them--the typical worker--seriously, beyond the high-profile examples, such as allegations against Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, Governor Cuomo and the Congress itself, that have garnered the headlines. Most importantly, the commission would hear from a cross section of the public--from office and factory workers to retail and food service employees--whose experiences with sexual harassment have received almost no national attention. The commission could travel or invite witnesses to Washington from throughout the country to recommend changes in laws or regulations and best practices on preventing, training, investigating, responding to and penalizing sexual harassment in the private and public sectors.

Our constituents expect Congress, which represents every sector, to take on the problem of sexual harassment throughout our national economy, including private and public (Federal, state and local) workplaces. A national commission could help reach and reduce sexual harassment, a form of gender discrimination, where the average American works.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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