Minnesota NOW

Minnesota NOW is a multi-issue, grassroots organization that’s been fighting for equality and justice since 1971

Feminism in Action

Donate Join NOW Take Action

en English
af Afrikaanssq Albanianam Amharicar Arabichy Armenianaz Azerbaijanieu Basquebe Belarusianbn Bengalibs Bosnianbg Bulgarianca Catalanceb Cebuanony Chichewazh-CN Chinese (Simplified)zh-TW Chinese (Traditional)co Corsicanhr Croatiancs Czechda Danishnl Dutchen Englisheo Esperantoet Estoniantl Filipinofi Finnishfr Frenchfy Frisiangl Galicianka Georgiande Germanel Greekgu Gujaratiht Haitian Creoleha Hausahaw Hawaiianiw Hebrewhi Hindihmn Hmonghu Hungarianis Icelandicig Igboid Indonesianga Irishit Italianja Japanesejw Javanesekn Kannadakk Kazakhkm Khmerko Koreanku Kurdish (Kurmanji)ky Kyrgyzlo Laola Latinlv Latvianlt Lithuanianlb Luxembourgishmk Macedonianmg Malagasyms Malayml Malayalammt Maltesemi Maorimr Marathimn Mongolianmy Myanmar (Burmese)ne Nepalino Norwegianps Pashtofa Persianpl Polishpt Portuguesepa Punjabiro Romanianru Russiansm Samoangd Scottish Gaelicsr Serbianst Sesothosn Shonasd Sindhisi Sinhalask Slovaksl Slovenianso Somalies Spanishsu Sudanesesw Swahilisv Swedishtg Tajikta Tamilte Teluguth Thaitr Turkishuk Ukrainianur Urduuz Uzbekvi Vietnamesecy Welshxh Xhosayi Yiddishyo Yorubazu Zulu
  • About
    • About MN NOW
    • Get Involved
    • Calendar of Events
    • Become a Member
    • Volunteer/Intern with Us
  • Issues
    • Constitutional Equality
    • Economic Justice
    • Freedom from Violence
    • LGBTQ Rights
    • Racial Justice
    • Reproductive Rights
  • News
  • Foundation
    • Planned Giving
  • PAC
    • MN NOW PAC – Candidates
    • Candidates Seeking Endorsement
  • Chapters
    • Fergus Falls Area NOW
    • Minnesota Valley NOW
    • MSP NOW
  • Events
    • 2023 Annual Conference Business Meeting
    • 2023 National Conference
    • Calendar of Events
  • Escape

December 13, 2018 by NOW National

Congress Isn’t Finished Strengthening Protections Against Sexual Harassment and Discrimination—But They’ve Made A Good Start

Statement by NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

WASHINGTON – Congress has finally passed legislation to reform the way sexual harassment cases are handled in the House and Senate. Members will now be held liable for all forms of harassment as well as retaliation against whistleblowers, and they will also be required to reimburse the Treasury for harassment settlements. Finally, members of Congress will be held accountable for their actions—they will no longer be able to use their enormous power to silence survivors and avoid transparency.

But there’s more work to be done. NOW supports Rep. Jackie Speier’s (D-CA) legislation to strengthen this new policy to protect against discrimination as well as harassment, and to require members to pay judgments and settlements out of their personal funds, not through the taxpayer.

A provision in the original House bill that required Members to be held personally liable for discrimination claims as defined by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was removed by the Senate, which also struck language requiring an investigation by an independent third party when a victim comes forward. Additionally, the Senate did not agree to adopt the House rule that passed in February and provides House staff with legal representation.

It’s important to remember that every step towards reform of workplace harassment and discrimination policy is an interim step. This work will not be finished overnight. What’s needed is nothing less than a change in the culture of men protecting men, of survivors being marginalized and of abusers escaping justice.  This is a change that’s urgently needed on Capitol Hill—and in every workplace in America.

Contact

NOW Press, press@now.org, 202-628-8669

About NOW National

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Search

Trailblazers come in many colors!

Women Trailblazers
Suffrage As A “Badass” Revolution
MN Suffrage History
MN Suffrage Takes Off

MN Fast Start Stalls for 50 Years
Women Chosen Across America
Elected Women Worldwide
Global Women Ambassadors

Get Minnesota NOW Updates

Minnesota NOW

Minnesota NOW is a multi-issue, grassroots organization that’s been fighting for equality and justice since 1971.

Learn more about us.

Contact

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 912
Burnsville, MN 55337

E-Mail
mnnow@mnnow.org

Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Handcrafted with by Mapped Digital. NOW Chapter Websites Reinvented.