US House of Representatives bans sex between members and staffers

The US House of Representatives voted yesterday to ban members from having sexual relationships with their employees.

Jackie Speier last month. Picture: AFP

The US House of Representatives voted yesterday to overhaul its policies on sexual harassment, banning members from having relationships with their employees and using taxpayer funds to pay for settlements as well as mandating the public reporting of cases.

The measures, which passed unanimously, grants subpoena powers to the office investigating allegations and requires it to release a biannual report listing each settlement paid, including the amount and the member involved. Under the previous law, no settlement amounts or names were disclosed. People who accuse members or staff of sexual harassment have had to sign nondisclosure agreements and undergo counselling.

An Office of Employee Advocacy for victims was created.

Elements of the overhaul that change House rules take effect immediately, while others that would amend federal law must be passed by the Senate and go to the president. Legislation to overhaul sexual harassment policies was introduced last year in the Senate by Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, but it hasn’t moved forward.

A provision blocks the Office of Congressional Ethics, a panel of private citizens, from investigations if a case has been reported internally. The measure precludes dual investigations in which a victim would have to testify twice to two different panels. “This has always been about empowering the victims,” said Democrat Representative Jackie Speier, who spearheaded the legislation. “The OCE is a dead-letter box for complaints.”

Republican Blake Farenthold said he wouldn’t seek re-election after news that he settled a wrongful termination suit with a former communications director for $US84,000 ($106,620). He admitted to the settlement but denied any harassment took place. Democrat John Conyers stepped down in November after revelations he had paid a former staffer who accused him of sexual harassment, which he denied.

The Wall Street Journal