House mandates sexual harassment training

WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday adopted by voice vote a resolution that would require all House employees — including all members — to be trained annually to combat workplace harassment and discrimination.

The bipartisan measure comes on the heels of allegations against Democratic Rep. John Conyers Jr. of Michigan, the longest-serving member in Congress, and Democratic Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota. As those cases work through the congressional ethics process, there’s a renewed focus on how sexual harassment can be reported on Capitol Hill.

“We must make it easier for women to come forward, provide them an advocate or counsel,” said sponsor Barbara Comstock, R-Va., during a brief floor debate. “We need to have a prohibition on any kind of member-staff relationship with subordinates; no taxpayer settlements, and transparency and accountability about who are the harassers.”

Jackie Speier, D-San Francisco, who has said she was harassed as a House staffer, said there has been no effective check on such behavior under the chamber’s current reporting procedures. She has been outspoken in calling for an overhaul.

“Unfortunately, due to the system that Congress created to protect itself from being exposed, there has been no accountability,” she said. “It’s now clear that this misguided attempt to protect the institution is instead harming it and leaving victims in its wake.”