One small step

Of all the revelations brought about by the #MeToo movement, none was more stunning—or more galling—than the fact that U.S. taxpayers had repeatedly financed the settlement of sexual harassment and other misconduct charges brought against members of Congress and their Capitol Hill staffs. Established under a 1995 statute intended to require lawmakers to follow the statutes they write, Congress’ Office of Compliance paid out $17 million between 1997 and 2017. Now, after various harassment scandals, Congress has reformed its procedures. Under legislation passed Dec. 13, members of the House and Senate will have to reimburse the Treasury for all future payments to settle sexual harassment claims. This is a major, if belated, step in the right direction, more welcome for the fact that it is the product of an apparently robust, good-faith bipartisan negotiation. Having been approved by unanimous consent in both houses, the legislation received President Donald Trump’s signature Dec. 21, which was expected but, given his record, one of the more remarkable ironies of recent political history. Still, we’ll take this victory for gender equality and accountability any way we can get it. Unfinished business remains. The new law applies only to sexual harassment charges, not to cases of alleged discrimination— such as denying a job to a woman because she may become pregnant. In those situations, the old rules apparently still apply, for no good reason we can think of. Whatever complexities stood in the way of adding that final crucial provision to Capitol Hill’s post-#MeToo rules ought to be addressed promptly after the new Congress arrives.