[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 161 (Friday, October 11, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION TO COMBAT WORKPLACE SEXUAL 
                             HARASSMENT ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 11, 2019

  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, many not denied, 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 recently adopted a bill 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 the mandatory counseling, 
mediation and ``cooling off'' periods for accusers that is currently 
required, mandates publicly reporting awards and settlements and covers 
unpaid staff as well. This is a step 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 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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