Negotiations over sexual harassment bills continue

Even as lawmakers and staff work to reconcile legislation passed by the House and Senate to curb sexual harassment on Capitol Hill, a timeline for enacting the bills is unclear, months after they were fast-tracked for floor votes.

“We’re confident we are going to get there at some point. We’re not quite there,” House Administration Chairman Gregg Harper of Mississippi said.

The proposals are not going through the traditional conference committee process, but staff and key players in each chamber are engaged in behind-the-scenes talks.

An aide to California Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier, who worked closely with the House Administration panel on its bill, said staff and lawmakers have been meeting weekly to come to a resolution on the differences between the two bills.

Senate Rules and Administration Chairman Roy Blunt said he and ranking Democrat Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota are pleased with the progress of the talks.

“We’re trying to come up with some further improvement and get to a solution,” the Missouri Republican said Tuesday.

The House bill passed in February and the Senate passed its proposal in May, but some major differences are proving tough to iron out.

The Senate legislation includes the term “unwelcome harassment”