Congress Lacks Central System to Report Sexual Harassment, Lawmakers Say
Congress does not have a central place for Capitol Hill staff to report workplace sexual harassment. Some female lawmakers are taking their own steps to protect workers in the absence of an official system.
Congress still lacks a central reporting system for workplace sexual harassment, forcing some female lawmakers to create their own protections for staff.
The problem stems from how Congress works. All 535 lawmakers are bosses of their own hand-selected staff with little oversight. "There's really no one overseeing you," said Rep. Jackie Speier. "There's a sense of entitlement that kind of overtakes many of these members."
The issue gained attention after sexual misconduct scandals involving former representatives. Some lawmakers have tried to fix the problem by passing laws to make reporting easier and banning nondisclosure agreements that protect members of Congress.
Rep. Speier worked with former Rep. Bradley Byrne to pass legislation addressing harassment and discrimination. But without a central reporting office, staff members still struggle to find help when problems arise.
Thousands of people work for Congress, but they have nowhere to turn if their boss harasses them. Each of the 535 lawmakers runs their own office with little oversight, creating power imbalances that can lead to abuse.
Watch for new legislation to create a formal harassment reporting system for Capitol Hill workers.
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