Senate acts on sexual misconduct reform

The issue: The #MeToo movement erupted last fall in response to multiple allegations of sexual abuse against former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. It quickly spread from the entertainment industry, to broadcast media, to sports and inevitably to the halls of Congress. By removing the shame and isolation of victims, #MeToo is changing — finally — the way society perceives and deals with sexual misconduct.

Some background: Turns out, Congress had a punitive and inconsistent system for handling sexual harassment or abuse complaints. Victims had to wait 90 days before filing a complaint and were ordered to get 30 days of counseling. That was enough to discourage anyone from coming forward. Further, no overall policy on harassment existed or guidelines for situations such as dating. Each of the 535 House and Senate offices could have its own policies and rules.

The House stepped up and passed a bipartisan reform in February, in response to former staffers operating as Congress Too, but the Senate lagged. In March, a letter signed by all 22 female Senators urged action and a month later 1,300 former Congressional staffers added their voices to calls for action. In a move that turned up the heat, Anna Kain, a former staff member for 5th District Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., went public with accusations that Esty’s former chief of staff Tony

Baker had abused Kain two years ago. After a three-month investigation in 2016, Esty finally fired Baker, but gave him a $5,000 severance, a nondisclosure agreement and a job reference. The outrage led to Esty’s downfall; she is not seeking re-election.

What we wrote: “Counseling and mediation should be voluntary for those filing a complaint with the Office of Compliance, and public disclosure should be required with sexual harassment settlements, while protecting the victim’s identity. Those are some of the obvious measures that should be taken . ...

“How much remains secret elsewhere is unknown. In a survey of Congressional staff two years ago, one in six women reported she had been a victim of sexual

How much remains secret elsewhere is unknown.

harassment . ...

“The Senate needs to act promptly — with no further delay — to pass legislation for reform of sexual abuse and harassment in its workplace. The government must set an example for all the other workplaces still floundering with how to deal with #MeToo.” — Editorial, April 18

The latest: The Senate voted unanimously last Thursday on legislation to strengthen procedures on claims by congressional staffers of sexual harassment, abuse or discrimination. A congressional committee will hear any reported claims. Moreover, taxpayers won’t have to pay for settlements; a congressional member would be personally responsible for any settlement related to what they did.

What’s next: The House and Senate versions of the bill, the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act, differ and have to be remedied before it can go to President Donald Trump for signing. Trump should sign the bill. And congress must be vigilant in making sure the new system works.