Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed completion of legislative efforts to combat harassment in Congress, and safeguard better workplace policies. The bill was passed late last week both by the House and the Senate, and has been sent to President Trump to be signed into law.

The Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act updates and strengthens the process for reporting and resolving claims of harassment, discrimination or other such wrongdoing, a process that was put in place in the 1995 law. Congress has worked over the past year to significantly improve training and protect employees, promptly establishing new personnel policies and now standardizing various improvements through the law.

In 2017, Congresswoman Amata co-sponsored an early bipartisan effort to rapidly put stronger policies in place, H.R. 630, introduced by Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Virginia), and also cosponsored the democrat-led alternative at the same time. These bills were building blocks for the expanded effort that passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in both houses, led by a coalition including Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in the Senate, and Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.) and Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) in the House. The bill originated in the House, introduced by Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.), Chairman of the Committee on House Administration with 38 co-sponsors.

“This is an important accomplishment to complete before the end of the 115th Congress,” said Aumua Amata. “We simply cannot allow harassment in the halls of Congress, or anywhere else. The American people are right to demand better of their leaders, and Congress has listened to the people. Thank you to my good friend Congresswoman Comstock who was an early and strong advocate on this issue for the past year. House leadership also deserves credit for acting decisively to improve training, and this bipartisan act will strengthen and secure all these improvements. Congress must follow high professional standards of decency.”

With the changes beginning in 2017 along with the results of this legislation, all staff and members of Congress are now required to take yearly anti-harassment training, and individual offices also have specific anti-harassment policies. Additionally, under this act, members of Congress can be held personally liable for harassment.