Senate approves new sexual harassment policy for Congress
Source: The Hill
BY JORDAIN CARNEY - 05/24/18 01:56 PM EDT
The Senate cleared legislation on Thursday implementing a new policy for handling sexual harassment claims.
Senators passed the bill by voice vote roughly a day after the legislation was introduced. It will now be sent to the House, which passed its own legislation last year.
The bill, from Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), would reform the reporting process for victims of sexual harassment and would make members of Congress personally liable for any settlements. The legislation would eliminate a 30-day counseling period, a 30-day mediation phase and a 30-day "cooling off" period currently required for victims of sexual harassment under the Congressional Accountability Act.
For a senator to be found personally liable under the new legislation, a hearing officer, judge or the Senate Ethics Committee would have to find that a member personally harassed someone.
Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/389229-senates-approve-new-sexual-harassment-policy-for-congress