Lance: Secret Taxpayer-Funded Sexual Harassment Settlements Eliminated

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) today supported reforms to the Congressional Accountability Act that overhaul sexual harassment investigations and support services. Lance, a member of the House Ethics Committee, was the first New Jersey member of Congress to support the comprehensive rewrite of the laws governing how Capitol Hill handles sexual harassment complaints and called for ending taxpayer-funded sexual harassment settlements.

“For too long, terrible acts of sexual harassment went unreported in Congress due to a failed support and investigative system – and lawmakers committing such acts were able to use taxpayer funds to cover them up.  These days are over.  Those who come to work in the halls of Congress need to feel confident that harassment of any kind will not be tolerated, protections will be in place and offenders – no matter how powerful – will face accountability for their actions.  Today’s landmark reforms will increase government transparency and accountability concerning taxpayer-financed harassment settlements in Congress.  I encourage other institutions to examine their own practices to ensure safe workplaces and accountability.  Now is the time for action and results,” said Lance.

Included in the bipartisan reform package is legislative language mirroring Lance’s bill – H.R. 4481, the Ensure Transparency and Honesty in Congressional Settlements (ETHICS) Act – to end taxpayer-funded settlements of sexual harassment claims and other workplace disputes against members of Congress.  The reforms to the Congressional Accountability Act also make immediate changes to harassment prevention and procedures within the U.S. House.