Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act

Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act

This bill amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) to revise administrative and judicial dispute resolution procedures for initiating and resolving claims by employees alleging that employing offices have violated their CAA rights and protections, including protections against sexual harassment.

The bill revises CAA provisions, including to:

• eliminate CAA counseling requirements and make mediation an employee's option before filing a claim with the Office of Compliance (OOC) alleging the violation;
• require current and former Members of Congress to reimburse the Treasury for compensatory damages included in an award or settlement resulting from the Member's alleged act of discrimination or retaliation;
• require referral to congressional ethics committees of final disposition of claims alleging CAA violations by Members of Congress and senior staff of employing offices;
• require non-congressional legislative offices that violate CAA requirements to reimburse the Treasury for resulting award or settlement payments;
• extend CAA nondiscrimination requirements and remedies to uncompensated legislative branch interns, detailees, and fellows; and
• provide OOC and CAA resources and services to employees outside of the Washington, DC area.

The bill applies CAA rights and protections to the China Review Commission, the Congressional-Executive China Commission, the Helsinki Commission, the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development, and their employees.

Non-congressional CAA employing offices must develop programs to train and educate employees about their CAA rights and protections and available procedures to consider alleged CAA violations.

The bill renames the OOC the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov