[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8577 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8577
To create a national commission to combat workplace sexual harassment,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 28, 2024
Ms. Norton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To create a national commission to combat workplace sexual harassment,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Commission to Combat
Workplace Sexual Harassment Act''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established a commission to be known as the ``National
Commission to Combat Workplace Sexual Harassment'' (in this Act
referred to as the ``Commission'').
SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
The Commission shall--
(1) carry out a comprehensive investigation and study of
workplace sexual harassment in the United States--
(A) through hearings and testimony taken from--
(i) workers, employers, and contractors in
the United States, including in such industries
and places of work as hospitality, factories,
offices, agriculture, food service, retail,
news media, technology, banking, entertainment,
and law enforcement regarding their experiences
with sexual harassment, sexual assault, and
other sexual misconduct in the workplace;
(ii) experts in employment discrimination
and sex discrimination, including sexual
harassment;
(iii) members of the public; and
(iv) advocates against employment
discrimination and sex discrimination,
including sexual harassment; and
(B) which shall--
(i) summarize findings from the testimony
of workers, employers, experts, public
witnesses, and advocates, mentioned in
paragraph (A) about sexual harassment, sexual
assault, and other sexual misconduct in the
workplace, including retaliation for reporting
such conduct;
(ii) include an assessment of the causes
and effects of workplace sexual harassment,
sexual assault, and other sexual misconduct in
the workplace;
(iii) evaluate whether and how personal
characteristics (such as race, gender, gender
identity, sexual orientation, age, income and
wealth, geographic location) or employment
circumstances (such as self employment,
contract, seasonal, permanent, night shift,
``gig'' economy) render individuals more
vulnerable to sexual harassment, sexual
assault, and other sexual misconduct in the
workplace;
(iv) evaluate whether and how new forms of
communication, such as social media, have had
an effect on sexual harassment, sexual assault,
and other sexual misconduct in the workplace;
(v) analyze whether and how sexual
harassment, sexual assault, and other sexual
misconduct in the workplace have increased in
the United States despite Federal, State, and
local legislation aimed at curbing such
conduct;
(vi) evaluate whether and how reporting
occurs about sexual harassment, sexual assault,
and other sexual misconduct in the workplace,
and whether and how that reporting is impacted
by individuals' personal characteristics or
employment circumstances;
(vii) evaluate the efficacy of current
reporting and accountability mechanisms in the
private and public sector;
(viii) analyze the causes and effects of
unreported and underreported sexual harassment,
sexual assault, and other sexual misconduct in
the workplace, and any disparities between
complaints reported and claims resolved on the
merits through mechanisms in the public and
private sector; and
(ix) include a review of private sector,
State, and local policies and practices that
have had an effect in addressing and preventing
sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other
sexual misconduct in the workplace, and
enforcing prohibitions against such conduct;
and
(2) not later than 18 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act--
(A) submit to the President and the Congress a
comprehensive report of the Commission's findings and
conclusions, together with any recommendations of the
Commission to combat sexual harassment, sexual assault,
and other sexual misconduct in the workplace; and
(B) conduct a hearing on the Commission's report
and recommendations.
SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
(a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 11
members, at least 6 of whom shall be women, appointed not later than 45
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, as follows:
(1) The majority leader and minority leader of the Senate
shall each appoint two members.
(2) The Speaker and the minority leader of the House of
Representatives shall each appoint two members.
(3) The President shall appoint three members.
(b) Qualifications.--Each person nominated to the Commission shall
be knowledgeable on sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other sexual
misconduct or related discrimination in the workplace.
(c) Terms.--
(1) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for the
life of the Commission.
(2) Vacancies.--Any vacancy shall not affect the power and
duties of the Commission, but shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment and made within 90 days of a
vacancy on the Commission.
(d) Chairperson; Vice Chairperson.--
(1) Election.--At the initial meeting, the Commission shall
select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from among its
members.
(2) Vice chairperson.--The Vice Chairperson shall perform
the duties of the Chairperson in the event the Chairperson is
absent, steps down, or dies.
(e) Quorum.--Six members of the Commission shall constitute a
quorum.
(f) Compensation.--Each Member of the Commission--
(1) shall not be considered to be a Federal employee for
any purpose by reason of service on the Commission; and
(2) shall serve without pay.
(g) Travel Expenses.--Each Member of the Commission shall receive
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code,
while away from their home or regular place of business in performance
of services for the Commission.
SEC. 5. POWERS.
(a) Meetings.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall meet at the call of
the Chairperson or a majority of its members.
(2) Initial meeting.--Not later than 60 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Commission shall hold an
initial meeting to develop and implement a schedule for
completion of the study, review, and report required under
section 3.
(b) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings and undertake
such other activities as the Commission determines necessary to carry
out its duties.
(c) Other Resources.--
(1) Documents, statistical data, and other such
information.--The Commission may secure directly from any
department or agency of the United States information necessary
to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the
Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that department or
agency shall furnish that information to the Commission.
(2) Office space and administrative support.--The
Administrator of General Services shall make office space
available for day-to-day activities of the Commission and for
scheduled meetings of the Commission. Upon request, the
Administrator shall provide, on a reimbursable basis, such
administrative support as the Commission requests to fulfill
its duties.
(d) Authority To Use United States Mails.--The Commission may use
the United States mails in the same manner and under the same
conditions as other departments and agencies of the United States.
(e) Authority To Contract.--
(1) In general.--To the extent provided in advance in
appropriations Acts, the Commission may contract with and
compensate government and private agencies or persons for the
conduct of activities necessary to the discharge of its duties
under section 3, without regard to section 6101 of title 41,
United States Code.
(2) Termination.--A contract, lease, or other legal
agreement entered into by the Commission may not extend beyond
the date of termination of the Commission.
SEC. 6. STAFF.
(a) Director.--The Commission shall have a Director who shall be
appointed and may be removed by a majority vote of the Commission. The
Director shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay
for level IV of the Executive Schedule.
(b) Staff.--
(1) In general.--The Director may appoint such personnel as
the Director determines to be appropriate. Such personnel shall
be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay for level
IV of the Executive Schedule and may be removed by the
Director, subject to a majority vote of the members of the
Commission.
(2) Additional staff.--The Commission may appoint and fix
the compensation of such other personnel as may be necessary to
enable the Commission to carry out its duties, without regard
to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing
appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to
the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53
of such title relating to classification and General Schedule
pay rates, except that no rate of pay fixed under this
subsection may exceed the equivalent of that payable to a
person occupying a position at level V of the Executive
Schedule.
(c) Experts and Consultants.--With the approval of the Commission,
the Director may procure temporary and intermittent services under
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
(d) Detail of Government Employees.--Upon the request of the
Commission, the head of any Federal agency may detail, without
reimbursement, any of the personnel of such agency to the Commission to
assist in carrying out the duties of the Commission. Any such detail
shall not interrupt or otherwise affect the civil service status or
privileges of the personnel.
(e) Volunteer Services.--Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31,
United States Code, the Commission may accept and use voluntary and
uncompensated services as the Commission determines necessary.
SEC. 7. SUNSET.
The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 60 days after
the date on which the Commission submits its report to Congress
pursuant to section 3(2).
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