[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 13 (Wednesday, February 9, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF BILL TO PROTECT VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE 
                               WORKPLACE

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 9, 2005

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce a bill of great public 
importance to women in the workforce across the United States. The U.S. 
Justice Department estimated that from 2000 to 2002, the percentage of 
rapes and sexual assaults occurring at the workplace jumped from 2 
percent to 10 percent of the total number of rapes and sexual assaults 
occurring in the United States yearly. Yet, many of these victims are 
told their only remedy is workers' compensation. When rape occurs on 
the job, employers should not be able to hide behind a system designed 
to compensate for job-related accidents. My bill sends a clear message: 
Rape is not all in a day's work.
  This bill gives victims of workplace violence across the Nation a 
remedy outside the workers' compensation system. It does this by 
creating a Federal civil rights cause of action, under certain 
conditions, for employees who have been the victims of gender-motivated 
violence at work. This bill will not result in numerous and unwarranted 
lawsuits against small businesses. In fact, the legislation outlines 
very strict requirements regarding whether a case would fall under the 
purview of this bill. Workers' compensation is a great system--it has 
created an American workplace safe from industrial accidents. But the 
job isn't done. This bill will encourage employers to create a job 
environment free of violent sexual assault and rape, because it is a 
terribly sad day in America when rape is considered all in a day's 
work.

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