,i  #aaeth ,,congress  #ast ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #dcif  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,november #ae1       
#bjag,ms4 ,speier 7for herself1 ,mr4    
,costello of ,pennsylvania1 ,ms4 ,kuster
 of ,new ,hampshire1 ,mr4 ,poliquin1    
,mr4 ,fitzpatrick1 and ,mr4 ,raskin7    
introduced the following bill2 which was
 referred to the ,committee on ,house   
,administration  ,a ,,bill  ,to amend   
the ,congressional ,accountability ,act 
of #aiie to reform the procedures       
provided under such ,act for the        
investigation and resolution of         
allegations that employing offices of   
the legislative branch have violated the
 rights and protections provided to     
their employees under such ,act1        
including protections against sexual    
harassment1 to require the updating of  
programs of sexual harassment prevention
 and response training in employment1 to
 institute biennial employment          
discrimination climate surveys1 and for 
other purposes4  #a4 ,short title2      

references in ,act2 table of contents   
7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited
 as the ,member and ,employee ,training 
and ,oversight ,on ,congress ,act or the
 ,,me ,,too ,congress ,act4  7b7        
,references in ,act ,except as otherwise
 expressly provided1 whenever in this   
,act an amendment is expressed in terms 
of an amendment to or repeal of a       
section or other provision1 the         
reference shall be considered to be made
 to that section or other provision of  
the ,congressional ,accountability ,act 
of #aiie 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #acja et seq474  
7c7 ,table of contents ,the table of    
contents of this ,act is as follows3    
,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 references in   
,act2 table of contents4 ,title         
,i--,reform of ,procedures for          
,investigation and ,resolution of       
,complaints ,sec4 #aja4 ,waiving        
counseling and mediation as prerequisite
 for filing of complaint or civil       
action4 ,sec4 #ajb4 ,separation of      
investigative and adjudicative roles in 

hearings4 ,sec4 #ajc4 ,victims'         
,counsel4 ,sec4 #ajd4 ,prohibiting      
imposition of nondisclosure agreements4 
,sec4 #aje4 ,availability of remote work
 assignment or paid leave of absence    
during pendency of procedures4 ,sec4    
#ajf4 ,electronic reporting system4     
,sec4 #ajg4 ,requiring parties to be    
separated during mediation at request of
 employee4 ,sec4 #ajh4 ,deadline for    
completion of hearings4 ,sec4 #aji4     
,clarification of authority of parties  
to reach agreements without approval of 
congressional committees4 ,sec4 #aaj4   
,modification of rules on               
confidentiality of proceedings4 ,title  
,,ii--,improving ,training and          
,transparency ,sec4 #bja4 ,requirements 
for programs of sexual harassment       
prevention and response training in     
employment4 ,sec4 #bjb4 ,personal       
liability of ,members of ,congress for  
payment of settlements and awards4 ,sec4
 #bjc4 ,reports on complaints and       
payments4 ,sec4 #bjd4 ,employment       

discrimination climate surveys of       
,members and employees of ,congress4    
,title ,,iii--,miscellaneous ,reforms   
,sec4 #cja4 ,extension to unpaid staff  
of rights and protections against       
employment discrimination4 ,sec4 #cjb4  
,application of whistleblower protection
 rules4 ,sec4 #cjc4 ,renaming ,office of
 ,compliance as ,office of              
,congressional ,workplace ,rights4      
,title ,,iv--,effective ,date ,sec4     
#dja4 ,effective date4  ,i ,reform of   
,procedures for ,investigation and      
,resolution of ,complaints  #aja4       
,waiving counseling and mediation as    
prerequisite for filing of complaint or 
civil action  7a7 ,waiving counseling2  
permitting initial request ,to be made  
anonymously ,the first sentence of      
section #djb7;a7 7#b ,u4,s4,c4          
#adjb7;a77 is amended to read as        
follows3 ,a covered employee alleging a 
violation of law made applicable under  
part ,a of title ,,ii may1 at the option
 of the covered employee1 request       

counseling by the ,office1 and may make 
the request anonymously44  7b7 ,waiving 
mediation ,section #djc7;a7 7#b         
,u4,s4,c4 #adjc7;a77 is amended to read 
as follows3  7a7 ,initiation ,in the    
case of a covered employee who alleged a
 violation of a law and who requested   
counseling by the ,office under section 
#djb7;a71 not later than #ae days after 
receipt by the employee of notice of the
 end of the counseling period under such
 section1 the employee may1 at the      
option of the employee1 file a request  
for mediation with the ,office4  4  7c7 
,time for election of proceeding2       
permitting initial election ,to be made 
anonymously ,section #djd 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 
#adjd7 is amended to read as follows3   
#djd4 ,election of proceeding  7a7      
,election ,not later than the applicable
 deadline under subsection 7b71 a       
covered employee alleging a violation of
 a law made applicable under part ,a of 
title ,,ii may either--  7#a7 file a    
complaint with the ,office in accordance

 with section #dje2 or  7#b7 file a     
civil action in accordance with section 
#djh in the ,united ,states district    
court for the district in which the     
employee is employed or for the         
,district of ,columbia4  7b7 ,applicable
 deadline ,the applicable deadline under
 this subsection is-- 7#a7 in the case  
of a covered employee who requests      
counseling by the ,office under section 
#djb but who does not request mediation 
under section #djc1 not later than #ij  
days after the end of the period of     
counseling under section #djb2  7#b7 in 
the case of a covered employee who      
requests counseling by the ,office under
 section #djb and mediation under       
section #djc1 not later than #ij days   
after the end of the period of mediation
 under section #djc2 or  7#c7 in the    
case of any other covered employee1 not 
later than #ahj days after the date of  
the alleged violation4  4  7d7          
,conforming amendment ,section #dje7;a7 
7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #adje7;a77 is amended by  

striking 1 upon the completion of       
mediation under section #djc14  #ajb4   
,separation of investigative and        
adjudicative roles in hearings  7a7 ,use
 of separate investigative authority    
,section #dje7;e7 7#b ,u4,s4,c4         
#adje7;e77 is amended to read as        
follows3  7e7 ,investigative authority  
7#a7 ,use of separate authority to      
conduct investigations ,the             
investigation of any complaint filed    
under this section shall be carried out 
by an investigative authority assigned  
by the ,board1 who may be an employee of
 the ,office or a contractor designated 
by the ,office for purposes of carrying 
out investigations under this section1  
except that the hearing officer         
appointed to consider the complaint may 
not serve as the investigative authority
 with respect to the complaint4  7#b7   
,types of investigations authorized     
7,a7 ,initial statement ,the            
investigative authority assigned to     
investigate a complaint may require the 

covered employee who filed the complaint
 to provide an initial statement which  
includes the following information3  7i7
 ,a statement of each specific harm     
relating to the complaint that the      
employee has suffered and the date on   
which each harm occurred4  7ii7 ,for    
each such harm1 a statement specifying  
the act1 policy or practice which is    
alleged to be in violation of part ,a of
 title ,,ii4  7iii7 ,for each act1      
policy1 or practice alleged to have     
harmed the covered employee1 a statement
 of the facts which led the person      
claiming to be aggrieved to believe that
 the act1 policy or practice is in      
violation of part ,a of title ,,ii4     
7,b7 ,fact-finding conference with      
parties to the complaint ,as part of its
 investigation of a complaint1 the      
investigative authority may require a   
fact-finding conference with the parties
 in order to define the issues arising  
from the complaint1 to determine which  
elements of the complaint are           

undisputed1 to resolve those issues that
 can be resolved1 and to ascertain      
whether there is a basis for negotiated 
settlement of the complaint4 ,at the    
request of the covered employee         
involved1 the investigative authority   
shall ensure that the parties are       
separated during this conference4  7,c7 
,other forms of investigation ,in       
addition to the types of investigative  
activity described in subparagraphs 7,a7
 and 7,b71 the investigative authority  
may carry out such other types of       
investigative activity with respect to a
 complaint as it considers appropriate1 
including prehearing discovery and the  
issuance of subpoenas in accordance with
 subsection 7f74  4  7b7 ,conforming    
amendments relating to subpoena         
authority ,section #dje7;f7 7#b         
,u4,s4,c4 #adje7;f77 is amended-- 7#a7  
in paragraph 7#a71 by striking a hearing
 officer may issue subpoenas and        
inserting an investigative authority    
under subsection 7e7 may issue          

subpoenas2 and  7#b7 in paragraph 7#b71 
by striking in connection with a        
proceeding before a hearing officer and 
inserting in connection with a complaint
 under this section4  #ajc4 ,victims'   
,counsel  7a7 ,availability of ,victims'
 ,counsel ,title ,,iv 7#b ,u4,s4,c4     
#adja et seq47 is amended by inserting  
after section #djg the following new    
section3  #djg;,a4 ,victims' ,counsel   
7a7 ,availability of ,counsel  7#a7 ,in 
general ,a covered employee who alleges 
a violation of part ,a of title ,,ii    
shall be offered the option of receiving
 assistance from a ,victims' ,counsel   
under this section upon--  7,a7 the     
employee's request for counseling by the
 ,office under section #djb1 in the case
 of a covered employee who makes such a 
request2 or  7,b7 the filing by the     
employee of a complaint with the ,office
 in accordance with section #dje1 in the
 case of a covered employee who does not
 make a request for counseling by the   
,office under section #djb4  7#b7       

,timing of providing option to receive  
assistance ,prior to requesting any     
statement from an individual described  
in paragraph 7#a7 regarding the         
allegation made by the individual       
7including an individual who makes the  
allegation anonymously in requesting    
counseling under section #djb71 or      
conducting any other form of            
investigation of the allegation1 the    
,office shall notify the individual of  
the availability of assistance from a   
,victims' ,counsel under this section4  
7#c7 ,continuing availability of        
assistance ,the ,office shall inform an 
individual described in paragraph 7#a7  
that if the individual declines the     
assistance of a ,victims' ,counsel1 in  
whole or in part1 at the time the       
assistance is offered under paragraph   
7#a71 the individual may subsequently   
request such assistance and such        
assistance will be provided to the      
individual4  7b7 ,designation  7#a7 ,in 
general ,the ,board shall designate     

legal counsel1 to be known as ,victims' 
,counsel1 to-- 7,a7 provide legal       
assistance in accordance with this      
section to a covered employee who       
alleges a violation of part ,a of title 
,,ii2 and  7,b7 provide counseling by   
the ,office under section #djb for a    
covered employee who alleges a violation
 of part ,a of title ,,ii and who       
requests counseling under such section4 
7#b7 ,qualifications ,an individual may 
not be designated as a ,victims'        
,counsel under this section unless the  
individual-- 7,a7 is an attorney who is 
a member of the bar of a ,federal court 
or of the highest court of a ,state2 and
  7,b7 is certified as competent to be  
designated as a ,victims' ,counsel by   
the ,executive ,director4  7#c7         
,training requirements ,the ,office     
shall--  7,a7 establish the baseline    
training requirements for a ,victims'   
,counsel2 and  7,b7 develop a policy to 
standardize the time period within which
 a ,victims' ,counsel receives training4

  7#d7 ,authority to provide assistance 
in any jurisdiction ,notwithstanding any
 law regarding the licensure of         
attorneys1 a ,victims' ,counsel who is  
authorized to provide assistance under  
this section is authorized to provide   
that assistance in any jurisdiction1    
subject to such regulations as may be   
prescribed by the ,office4  7c7 ,types  
of legal assistance authorized ,the     
types of legal assistance that a        
,victims' ,counsel may provide to a     
covered employee who alleges a violation
 of part ,a of title ,,ii include the   
following3  7#a7 ,legal consultation    
regarding potential liability1 including
 criminal liability1 arising from or in 
relation to the circumstances           
surrounding the alleged violation and   
the covered employee's rights under this
 ,act4  7#b7 ,legal consultation        
regarding the responsibilities and      
support provided to the covered employee
 under this ,act4  7#c7 ,legal          
consultation regarding the potential for

 civil litigation against other parties 
7other than the ,united ,states7 arising
 from the alleged violation4  7#d7      
,legal consultation regarding procedures
 under this ,act and procedures         
applicable to civil actions arising from
 the alleged violation1 including--     
7,a7 the roles and responsibilities of  
the ,office1 the ,house ,employment     
,counsel1 and similar authorities2  7,b7
 any proceedings conducted under this   
,act or pursuant to a civil action which
 the covered employee may observe2  7,c7
 the authority of a hearing officer to  
compel cooperation and testimony under  
proceedings held under section #dje2 and
  7,d7 the covered employee's duties    
relating to such proceedings1 including 
the responsibility to testify4  7#e7    
,representing the covered employee at   
any proceedings in connection with the  
complaint1 other than a civil action    
under section #djf4  7#f7 ,legal        
consultation and assistance-- 7,a7 in   
personal civil legal matters related to 

the covered employee's complaint 7other 
than a civil action under section #djf72
  7,b7 in any proceedings of the        
,office1 the ,committee on ,ethics of   
the ,house of ,representatives          
7including the ,office of ,congressional
 ,ethics71 the ,select ,committee on    
,ethics of the ,senate1 or any other    
administrative or judicial body related 
to the covered employee's complaint2    
7,c7 in understanding the availability  
of1 and obtaining any protections       
offered by1 protecting or restraining   
orders2 and  7,d7 in understanding the  
eligibility and requirements for        
obtaining any employment or other       
benefits under ,state and ,federal      
victims' compensation programs4  7d7    
,nature of relationship ,the            
relationship between a ,victims'        
,counsel and a covered employee in the  
provision of legal advice and assistance
 under this section shall be the        
relationship between an attorney and    
client  4  7b7 ,conforming amendment    

relating to responsibility of ,victims' 
,counsel ,to carry out counseling       
,section #djb 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #adjb7 is   
amended by adding at the end the        
following new subsection3  7d7 ,role of 
,victims' ,counsel ,if a covered        
employee who requests counseling under  
this section also requested the         
assistance of a ,victims' ,counsel under
 section #djg;,a1 the ,victims' ,counsel
 assigned to provide assistance to the  
employee shall carry out the counseling 
for the ,office under this section4  4  
7c7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of   
contents is amended by inserting after  
the item relating to section #djg the   
following new item3  ,sec4 #djg;,a4     
,victims' ,counsel4  4  #ajd4           
,prohibiting imposition of nondisclosure
 agreements ,section #dja 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 
#adja7 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking    
,except as otherwise provided and       
inserting 7a7 ,procedures               
available4--,except as otherwise        
provided2 and  7#b7 by adding at the end

 the following new subsection3  7b7     
,prohibiting imposition of nondisclosure
 agreements as prerequisite for         
procedures  7#a7 ,in general ,a         
nondisclosure agreement may not be      
imposed on any party as a condition of  
the initiation of any of the procedures 
available under this title for          
consideration of a violation of part ,a 
of title ,,ii unless the duration of the
 agreement is for a finite period of    
time agreed to by all of the parties    
involved1 including the covered employee
 and the employing office4  7#b7        
,exceptions ,nothing in paragraph 7#a7  
may be construed to prohibit the parties
 to any procedure available under this  
title from entering into--  7,a7 a      
nondisclosure agreement agreed to by all
 of the parties involved regarding the  
contents of any mediation conducted     
under section #djc1 so long as the      
agreement does not apply after the      
conclusion of the mediation2 or  7,b7 a 
nondisclosure agreement agreed to by all

 of the parties involved as part of the 
settlement of any complaint filed with  
the ,office in accordance with section  
#dje or any civil action initiated in   
accordance with section #djh4  4  #aje4 
,availability of remote work assignment 
or paid leave of absence during pendency
 of procedures ,section #dja 7#b        
,u4,s4,c4 #adja71 as amended by section 
#ajd1 is further amended by adding at   
the end the following new subsection3   
7c7 ,availability of remote work        
assignment or paid leave of absence     
during pendency of procedures  7#a7     
,requirements for employing offices     
7,a7 ,remote work assignment ,at the    
request of a covered employee who       
alleges a violation of part ,a of title 
,,ii by the covered employee's employing
 office1 during the pendency of any of  
the procedures available under this     
title for consideration of the          
violation1 the employing office shall   
permit the covered employee to carry out
 the employee's responsibilities from a 

remote location instead of from the     
location of the employing office4  7,b7 
,exception for work assignments required
 to be carried out onsite ,if1 in the   
determination of the covered employee's 
employing office1 a covered employee who
 makes a request under this paragraph   
cannot carry out the employee's         
responsibilities from a remote location1
 the employing office shall grant paid  
leave of absence to a covered employee  
during the pendency of the procedures   
available under this title for the      
covered employee4  7#b7 ,exclusion from 
cap on number of employees of office of 
,member or committee of the ,house of   
,representatives ,if the office of a    
,member or committee of the ,house of   
,representatives grants a covered       
employee of such office a paid leave of 
absence under paragraph 7#a71 during the
 period in which the employee is on the 
paid leave of absence1 the employee     
shall not be counted among the number of
 employees of the office--  7,a7 in the 

case of the office of a ,member of the  
,house1 for purposes of section #ajd7;a7
 of the ,house of ,representatives      
,administrative ,reform ,technical      
,corrections ,act 7#b ,u4,s4,c4         
#ecba7;a772 or  7,b7 in the case of the 
office of a committee of the ,house1 for
 purposes of any rule or regulation of  
the ,house which governs the number of  
employees the committee may appoint4    
7#c7 ,exception for arrangements subject
 to collective bargaining agreements    
,paragraph 7#a7 does not apply to the   
extent that it is inconsistent with the 
terms and conditions of any collective  
bargaining agreement which is in effect 
with respect to an employing office4  4 
#ajf4 ,electronic reporting system      
,section #dja 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #adja71 as  
amended by section #ajd and section     
#aje1 is further amended by adding at   
the end the following new subsection3   
7d7 ,use of electronic reporting system 
,the ,office shall establish and operate
 an electronic reporting system through 

which a covered employee may initiate a 
proceeding under this title1 and which  
will keep an electronic record of the   
date and time at which the proceeding is
 initiated4  4  #ajg4 ,requiring parties
 to be separated during mediation at    
request of employee ,section            
#djc7;b77#b7 7#b ,u4,s4,c4              
#adjc7;b77#b77 is amended by striking   
meetings with the parties separately or 
jointly and inserting meetings with the 
parties during which1 at the request of 
the covered employee1 the parties shall 
be separated14  #ajh4 ,deadline for     
completion of hearings  7a7 ,in general 
,section #dje7;g7 7#b ,u4,s4,c4         
#adje7;g77 is amended by striking #ij   
days after the conclusion of the hearing
 and inserting the earlier of #ij days  
after the conclusion of the hearing or  
#ahj days after the filing of the       
complaint under subsection 7a74  7b7    
,effective date ,the amendment made by  
subsection 7a7 shall apply with respect 
to complaints filed under section #dje  

of the ,congressional ,accountability   
,act 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #adje7 on or after   
the date of the enactment of this ,act4 
#aji4 ,clarification of authority of    
parties to reach agreements without     
approval of congressional committees    
7a7 ,in general ,section #dad 7#b       
,u4,s4,c4 #adad7 is amended-- 7#a7 by   
striking ,any settlement and inserting  
7a7 ,criteria for settlement4--,any     
settlement2 and  7#b7 by adding at the  
end the following new subsection3  7b7  
,authority of parties ,to reach         
agreements without specific approval of 
committees ,any counsel representing an 
employing office in any proceeding      
referred to in subsection 7a7 has the   
authority to negotiate the terms and    
conditions of any settlement of any such
 proceeding1 including making the final 
determination of any amount paid to any 
party1 without the approval of any      
committee of ,congress4  4  7b7         
,conforming amendment relating to       
authority of committees ,to determine   

range of appropriate settlement amounts 
,section #dad7;a7 7#b ,u4,s4,c4         
#adad7;a771 as amended by subsection    
7a71 is amended by striking the period  
at the end and inserting the following3 
1 including rules setting forth a range 
of appropriate settlement amounts for   
various types of violations of this ,act
 or any amendment made by this ,act44   
#aaj4 ,modification of rules on         
confidentiality of proceedings  7a7     
,counseling ,section #daf7;a7 7#b       
,u4,s4,c4 #adaf7;a77 is amended by      
striking ,all counseling and inserting  
,at the request of the covered employee 
who requests counseling1 all counseling4
  7b7 ,mediation ,section #daf7;b7 7#b  
,u4,s4,c4 #adaf7;b77 is amended by      
striking ,all mediation and inserting   
,all information discussed or disclosed 
in the course of any mediation4  ,,ii   
,improving ,training and ,transparency  
#bja4 ,requirements for programs of     
sexual harassment prevention and        
response training in employment  7a7    

,requirements for programs ,section #cja
 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #acha7 is amended by     
adding at the end the following new     
subsection3  7l7 ,special requirements  
for programs of sexual harassment       
prevention and response training in     
employment  7#a7 ,elements of program   
,the ,office shall include among the    
programs carried out under subsection   
7h7 a program of sexual harassment      
prevention and response training in     
employment which provides at least one  
hour of training and which includes the 
following elements3  7,a7 ,practical    
examples1 derived from situations easily
 recognizable to employees of the       
employing offices involved1 which are   
aimed at instructing supervisors in the 
prevention of harassment1               
discrimination1 and retaliation1 and at 
instructing employees in how to         
recognize situations of harassment4     
7,b7 ,information regarding the rights  
of employees1 the options for reporting 
complaints1 and an overview of the      

dispute resolution process4  7,c7       
,training regarding bystander           
intervention4  7,d7 ,an overview of the 
consequences for perpetrating sexual    
harassment4  7,e7 ,information regarding
 anti-retaliation policies for witnesses
 to or individuals who experience sexual
 harassment and come forward to report  
it4  7,f7 ,interactive methods of       
instruction which apply adult learning  
methodology4  7#b7 ,additional          
information for heads of offices and    
senior staff  7,a7 ,information         
described ,in addition to the program   
described in paragraph 7#a71 the ,office
 shall provide specific instruction to  
the heads of employing offices          
7including ,members of ,congress7 and to
 the senior staff of employing offices  
on the following issues relating to     
sexual harassment3  7i7 ,the steps such 
an individual should take upon becoming 
aware of an incident of sexual          
harassment involving an employee of the 
employing office4  7ii7 ,the role of the

 ,office in investigating and responding
 to incidents of sexual harassment4     
7iii7 ,the assistance such an individual
 may provide to an employee of the      
employing office who wishes to report an
 alleged incident of sexual harassment  
to the ,office for action under title   
,,iv1 including informing the employee  
of the employee's rights and protections
 under such title1 the employee's       
options for reporting the incident1 and 
an overview of the procedures applicable
 under such title4  7iv7 ,the potential 
liability 7including financial          
liability7 which may arise from such an 
incident of sexual harassment1 including
 from a determination that the failure  
of the employing office to respond      
appropriately to such an incident is    
evidence of a hostile work environment  
in the employing office4  7,b7 ,senior  
staff defined ,in this paragraph1 the   
term senior staff means any individual  
who is required to file a report under  
title ,i of the ,ethics in ,government  

,act of #aigh 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app4 #aja  
et seq474  7#c7 ,consultation ,in       
carrying out the program described in   
paragraph 7#a71 the ,office shall       
consult with ,workplaces ,respond to    
,domestic and ,sexual ,violence3 ,a     
,national ,resource ,center 7also known 
as ,workplaces ,respond71 the nonprofit 
nongovernmental entity described in     
section #daeja of the ,violence ,against
 ,women ,act of #aiid 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4    
#abeja74  7#d7 ,definition ,for purposes
 of this subsection1 sexual harassment  
means any conduct directed at an        
individual which consists of unwelcome  
sexual advances1 requests for sexual    
favors1 any other conduct of a sexual   
nature1 or conduct based on the         
individual's sex if such conduct has the
 purpose or effect of interfering with  
the individual's work performance or    
creating an intimidating1 hostile1 or   
offensive working environment1 or if    
submission to or rejection of such      
conduct by the individual is used as the

 basis for employment decisions         
affecting the individual1 or if         
submission by the individual to such    
conduct is made either explicitly or    
implicitly a term or condition of the   
individual's employment4  4  7b7        
,effective date ,the amendment made by  
subsection 7a7 shall take effect #ahj   
days after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act4  #bjb4 ,personal liability of
 ,members of ,congress for payment of   
settlements and awards ,section #dae 7#b
 ,u4,s4,c4 #adae7 is amended by adding  
at the end the following new subsection3
  7d7 ,personal liability of ,members of
 ,congress for payment of settlements   
and awards ,if a payment is made from   
the account described in subsection 7a7 
for an award or settlement resulting    
from a violation of part ,a of title    
,,ii which was committed personally by a
 ,member of ,congress1 the ,member who  
committed the violation shall reimburse 
the account for the amount of the award 
or settlement4  4  #bjc4 ,reports on    

complaints and payments  7a7 ,requiring 
submission and publication of report    
,section #cja7;h7 7#b ,u4,s4,c4         
#acha7;h77 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking
 and at the end of paragraph 7#b72  7#b7
 by striking the period at the end of   
paragraph 7#c7 and inserting 2 and2 and 
7#c7 by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph3  7#d7 in addition to     
compiling and publishing the statistics 
described in paragraph 7#c71 not later  
than #fj days after the end of each     
calendar year1 submit to ,congress and  
publish on the ,office's public website 
a report identifying each employing     
office with respect to which an award or
 settlement was paid during the previous
 year as the result of an allegation    
made of a violation of part ,a of title 
,,ii1 the number of such allegations    
made against the employing office1 and  
the amount of the award or settlement1  
except that such report may not disclose
 the identity of an individual who made 
such an allegation at any time4  4  7b7 

,effective date ,the amendment made by  
subsection 7a7 shall apply with respect 
to #bjag and each succeeding year4      
#bjd4 ,employment discrimination climate
 surveys of ,members and employees of   
,congress  7a7 ,requiring surveys ,title
 ,,iii 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #acha et seq47 is  
amended by adding at the end the        
following new section3  #cjg4           
,employment discrimination climate      
surveys of ,members and employees of    
,congress  7a7 ,requirement ,to conduct 
surveys ,not later than #ahj days after 
the date of the enactment of the ,,me   
,,too ,congress ,act1 and every #b years
 thereafter1 the ,office shall conduct a
 survey of ,members of ,congress and    
congressional staff regarding employment
 discrimination in congressional        
employment1 including a survey of the   
following3  7#a7 ,the prevalence of     
violations of part ,a of title ,,ii by  
offices of the ,house of                
,representatives and the ,senate4  7#b7 
,the extent to which such violations    

arise from discrimination on the basis  
of sex1 race1 national origin1 sexual   
orientation1 gender identity1           
disability1 and other demographic       
characteristics4  7#c7 ,the existence of
 a hostile work environment in offices  
of ,congress4  7#d7 ,whether            
congressional staff are able to         
effectively exercise the rights and     
protections provided under this ,act1   
including the effectiveness of the      
procedures applicable under this ,act   
for investigating and punishing         
violations of part ,a of title ,,ii4    
7b7 ,special requirements for surveys of
 sexual harassment  7#a7 ,in general ,in
 each survey conducted under this       
section1 the ,office shall survey       
respondents regarding the prevalence of 
and attitudes regarding sexual          
harassment in congressional employment1 
including collecting information        
regarding specific incidents of         
harassment and the context in which such
 incidents occurred4  7#b7 ,compilation 

of information by various categories    
,the ,office shall compile information  
from the survey on the basis of various 
categories of demographic               
characteristics1 including race1 sexual 
orientation1 and age1 so that the survey
 will report on the rates of incidents  
of sexual harassment affecting each such
 category4  7#c7 ,consultation2         
technical assistance ,the ,office shall 
develop the survey regarding sexual     
harassment in consultation with offices 
of the executive branch which currently 
conduct similar surveys of their        
employees1 including the ,sexual        
,assault ,prevention and ,response      
,office of the ,department of ,defense1 
the ,office of ,violence ,against ,women
 of the ,department of ,justice1 the    
,merit ,systems ,protection ,board4     
,additionally1 in developing the survey1
 the ,office shall enter into agreement 
to receive technical assistance from    
,workplaces ,respond to ,domestic and   
,sexual ,violence3 ,a ,national         

,resource ,center 7also known as        
,workplaces ,respond71 the nonprofit    
nongovernmental entity described in     
section #daeja of the ,violence ,against
 ,women ,act of #aiid 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4    
#abeja74  7c7 ,methodology ,the ,office 
shall conduct each survey under this    
section in accordance with the          
following3 7#a7 ,all responses to all   
portions of the survey shall be         
anonymous and confidential1 and each    
respondent shall be told throughout the 
survey that all responses shall be      
anonymous and confidential4  7#b7 ,the  
,office shall design the survey so that 
it will take no more than #ae minutes to
 complete1 and so that it may be taken  
online through the use of both          
stationary communication devices 7such  
as desktop computers7 and portable      
communication devices 7such as cell     
phones and tablets74  7#c7 ,the ,office 
shall include in the survey a list of   
resources available to respondents who  
wish to get more information about      

employment discrimination in            
congressional employment1 including the 
services the ,office provides to        
individuals who allege violations of    
part ,a of title ,,ii4  7#d7 ,subject to
 regulations promulgated by the         
,committee on ,house ,administration of 
the ,house of ,representatives 7in the  
case of a survey taken by a ,member or  
employee of the ,house7 or the          
,committee on ,rules and ,administration
 of the ,senate 7in the case of a survey
 taken by a ,senator or employee of the 
,senate71 the ,office may offer a de    
minimis payment to an individual as an  
incentive to complete the survey4  4    
7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of   
contents is amended by adding at the end
 of the items relating to title ,,iii   
the following new item3  ,sec4 #cjg4    
,employment discrimination climate      
surveys of ,members and employees of    
,congress4  4  ,,iii ,miscellaneous     
,reforms  #cja4 ,extension to unpaid    
staff of rights and protections against 

employment discrimination  ,section #bja
 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #acaa7 is amended-- 7#a7 
by redesignating subsection 7d7 as      
subsection 7e72 and  7#b7 by inserting  
after subsection 7c7 the following new  
subsection3  7d7 ,application to unpaid 
staff  7#a7 ,in general ,subsections 7a7
 and 7b7 shall apply with respect to any
 staff of an employing office who carry 
out official duties of the employing    
office but who are not paid by the      
employing office for carrying out such  
duties1 including an intern 7including  
an applicant for an internship and a    
former intern71 an individual detailed  
to an employing office1 and an          
individual participating in a fellowship
 program1 in the same manner and to the 
same extent as such subsections apply   
with respect to an employee4  7#b7      
,intern defined ,the term intern means  
an individual who performs uncompensated
 voluntary service for an employing     
office to earn credit awarded by an     
educational institution or to learn a   

trade or occupation1 and includes any   
individual participating in a page      
program operated by any ,house of       
,congress4  4  #cjb4 ,application of    
whistleblower protection rules  7a7 ,in 
general ,part ,a of title ,,ii 7#b      
,u4,s4,c4 #acaa et seq47 is amended--   
7#a7 in the heading1 by striking fair   
labor standards1 and all that follows   
and inserting and other protections and 
benefits2  7#b7 by redesignating section
 #bjg as section #bjh2 and  7#c7 by     
inserting after section #bjf the        
following new section3  #bjg4 ,rights   
and protections under whistleblower     
protection rules  7a7 ,rights and       
,protections ,described  7#a7 ,in       
general ,no employing office may take or
 fail to take1 or threaten to take or   
fail to take1 a personnel action 7within
 the meaning of chapter #bc of title #e1
 ,united ,states ,code7 with respect to 
any covered employee or applicant for   
employment because of--  7,a7 any       
disclosure of information by a covered  

employee or applicant which the employee
 or applicant reasonably believes       
evidences--  7i7 a violation of any law1
 rule1 or regulation1 or  7ii7 gross    
mismanagement1 a gross waste of funds1  
an abuse of authority1 or a substantial 
and specific danger to public health or 
safety1  if such disclosure is not      
specifically prohibited by law and if   
such information is not specifically    
required by ,executive order or the     
rules of the ,house of ,representatives 
or ,senate to be kept secret in the     
interest of national defense or the     
conduct of foreign affairs2 or  7,b7 any
 disclosure to the ,general ,counsel1 or
 to the ,inspector ,general of an       
executive agency or office of the       
legislative branch or another employee  
designated by the head of the agency or 
office to receive such disclosures1 of  
information which the employee or       
applicant reasonably believes           
evidences--  7i7 a violation of any law1
 rule1 or regulation1 or  7ii7 gross    

mismanagement1 a gross waste of funds1  
an abuse of authority1 or a substantial 
and specific danger to public health or 
safety4  7#b7 ,definitions ,for purposes
 of this section and for purposes of    
applying the procedures established     
under title ,,iv for the consideration  
of alleged violations of this section-- 
7,a7 the term covered employee includes 
an employee of the ,government          
,accountability ,office or the ,library 
of ,congress2 and  7,b7 the term        
employing office includes the           
,government ,accountability ,office and 
the ,library of ,congress4  7b7 ,remedy 
,the remedy for a violation of          
subsection 7a7 shall be such remedy as  
would be appropriate if awarded under   
chapter #ab of title #e1 ,united ,states
 ,code1 with respect to a prohibited    
personnel practice described in section 
#bcjb7;b77#h7 of such title4  7c7       
,regulations ,to ,implement ,section    
7#a7 ,in general ,the ,board shall1     
pursuant to section #cjd1 issue         

regulations to implement this section4  
7#b7 ,agency regulations ,the           
regulations issued under paragraph 7#a7 
shall be the same as the substantive    
regulations promulgated by the ,merit   
,systems ,protection ,board to implement
 chapters #ab and #bc of title #e1      
,united ,states ,code1 except to the    
extent that the ,board of ,directors may
 determine1 for good cause shown and    
stated together with the regulation1    
that a modification of such regulations 
would be more effective for the         
implementation of the rights and        
protections under this section4  4  7b7 
,conforming ,amendment ,section #ajb7;a7
 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #acjb7;a77 is amended by 
adding at the end the following new     
paragraph3  7#ab7 ,section #bcjb7;b77#h7
 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4  4 
7c7 ,clerical ,amendment ,the table of  
contents for part ,a of title ,,ii is   
amended-- 7#a7 in the item relating to  
part ,a1 by striking ,fair ,labor       
,standards1 and all that follows and    

inserting and ,other ,protections and   
,benefits2  7#b7 by redesignating the   
item relating to section #bjg as        
relating to section #bjh2 and  7#c7 by  
inserting after the item relating to    
section #bjf the following3  ,sec4 #bjg4
 ,rights and protections under          
whistleblower protection rules4  4      
#cjc4 ,renaming ,office of ,compliance  
as ,office of ,congressional ,workplace 
,rights  7a7 ,renaming ,section #cja of 
the ,congressional ,accountability ,act 
of #aiie 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #acha et seq47 is
 amended-- 7#a7 in the heading1 by      
striking ,office of ,compliance and     
inserting ,office of ,congressional     
,workplace ,rights2 and  7#b7 in        
subsection 7a71 by striking ,office of  
,compliance and inserting ,office of    
,congressional ,workplace ,rights4  7b7 
,conforming amendments to ,congressional
 ,accountability ,act of #aiie ,the     
,congressional ,accountability ,act of  
#aiie is amended as follows3  7#a7 ,in  
section #aja7a7 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #acja7a771

 by striking ,office of ,compliance and 
inserting ,office of ,congressional     
,workplace ,rights4  7#b7 ,in section   
#aja7b7 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #acja7b771 by     
striking ,office of ,compliance and     
inserting ,office of ,congressional     
,workplace ,rights4  7#c7 ,in section   
#aja7c77;,h7 7#b ,u4,s4,c4              
#acja7c77;,h771 by striking ,office of  
,compliance and inserting ,office of    
,congressional ,workplace ,rights4  7#d7
 ,in section #aja7i77;,d7 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 
#acja7i77;,d771 by striking ,office of  
,compliance and inserting ,office of    
,congressional ,workplace ,rights4  7#e7
 ,in section #aja7aj7 7#b ,u4,s4,c4     
#acja7aj771 by striking ,office of      
,compliance and inserting ,office of    
,congressional ,workplace ,rights4  7#f7
 ,in section #aja7aa7 7#b ,u4,s4,c4     
#acja7aa771 by striking ,office of      
,compliance and inserting ,office of    
,congressional ,workplace ,rights4  7#g7
 ,in section #aja7ab7 7#b ,u4,s4,c4     
#acja7ab771 by striking ,office of      

,compliance and inserting ,office of    
,congressional ,workplace ,rights4  7#h7
 ,in section #baj7;a77#i7 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 
#acca7;a77#i771 by striking ,office of  
,compliance and inserting ,office of    
,congressional ,workplace ,rights4  7#i7
 ,in section #bae7;e77#a7 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 
#acda7;e77#a771 by striking ,office of  
,compliance and inserting ,office of    
,congressional ,workplace ,rights4      
7#aj7 ,in section #bbj7;e77#b77;,g7 7#b 
,u4,s4,c4 #acea7;e77#b77;,g771 by       
striking ,office of ,compliance and     
inserting ,office of ,congressional     
,workplace ,rights4  7#aa7 ,in the      
heading of title ,,iii1 by striking     
,office of ,compliance and inserting    
,office of ,congressional ,workplace    
,rights4  7#ab7 ,in section #cjd7;c77#d7
 7#b ,u4,s4,c4 #achd7;c77#d771 by       
striking ,office of ,compliance and     
inserting ,office of ,congressional     
,workplace ,rights4  7#ac7 ,in section  
#cjd7;c77#e7 7#b ,u4,s4,c4              
#achd7;c77#e771 by striking ,office of  

,compliance and inserting ,office of    
,congressional ,workplace ,rights4  7c7 
,clerical amendments ,the table of      
contents is amended--  7#a7 by amending 
the item relating to the heading of     
title ,,iii to read as follows3  ,title 
,,iii--,office of ,congressional        
,workplace ,rights  2  and  7#b7 by     
amending the item relating to section   
#cja to read as follows3  ,sec4 #cja4   
,office of ,congressional ,workplace    
,rights4  4  7d7 ,references in other   
laws1 rules1 and regulations ,any       
reference to the ,office of ,compliance 
in any law1 rule1 regulation1 or other  
official paper in effect as of the      
effective date of this ,act shall be    
considered to refer and apply to the    
,office of ,congressional ,workplace    
,rights4  ,,iv ,effective ,date  #dja4  
,effective date ,except as otherwise    
provided1 this ,act and the amendments  
made by this ,act shall take effect upon
 the expiration of the #ahj-;day period 
which begins on the date of the         

enactment of this ,act4