HR 8126
Congressional Accountability Act Enhancement Act
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Sign in to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill, the Congressional Accountability Act Enhancement Act, modifies the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to require Members of Congress to reimburse the Treasury for settlements and awards in employment discrimination cases. It expands the scope of retaliation claims covered under the Act and allows individuals filing claims to amend their claims if a hearing officer determines they are not covered employees or haven't stated a valid claim. Furthermore, it grants the Office of Employee Advocacy the authority to assist covered employees in civil actions related to violations of the Act.
Key provisions
- Requires Members of Congress to reimburse the Treasury for settlements and awards in employment discrimination cases.
- Expands the definition of retaliation to include intimidation, reprisal, or discrimination taken against covered employees due to filing discrimination claims.
- Permits individuals to amend their claims if a hearing officer determines they are not covered employees or haven't stated a valid claim.
- Grants the Office of Employee Advocacy the ability to assist covered employees in civil actions related to violations of the Act.
Who is affected
- Members of Congress
- Employees of the House of Representatives
- Individuals filing employment discrimination claims
- The Office of Employee Advocacy
Notable changes
- Expands the definition of retaliation to include a broader range of unlawful actions.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] Norton
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yoursRead the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
H. R. 8126
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To amend the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to require Members of Congress to reimburse the Treasury for amounts paid as settlements and awards under such Act in all cases of employment discrimination acts committed personally by Members, to permit individuals who file claims under such Act to file an amended claim if the preliminary review of the individual’s claim by a hearing officer includes the determination that the individual filing the claim is not a covered employee under such Act or has not stated a claim for which relief may be granted under title IV of such Act, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Congressional Accountability Act Enhancement Act
.
Clause (i) of section 402(b)(2)(B) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1402(b)(2)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
Section 415(e) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1415(e)) is amended—
in paragraph (1), by striking a violation of section 201(a) or 206(a)
and inserting a violation described in paragraph (4)
; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
the individual may file an amended version of the claim under this section; and
the amended claim shall be subject to a preliminary review under this section in the same manner as the original version of the claim.
the individual (including an individual who is a Library claimant, as defined in section 401(d)(1)) may not obtain a formal hearing with respect to the claim as provided under section 405; and
the hearing officer shall provide the individual and the Executive Director with a written notice that the individual may file a civil action with respect to the claim in accordance with section 408.
The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to claims under the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 which are made on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
This section is enacted by Congress—