United States 115th Congress Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 78 R · 25 D · 1 I cosponsors

HR 4494 — Congressional Accountability and Hush Fund Elimination Act

Last action — Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Congressional Accountability and Hush Fund Elimination Act This bill amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) to (1) prohibit the use of public funds for payments of awards and settlements resulting from violation of certain CAA rights and protections if the violation consists of sexual harassment or sexual assault, (2) prohibit an imposition of a nondisclosure agreement as a prerequisite for CAA procedures to consider the violation, and (3) permit an individual to publicize any information relating to such a prior award or settlement if it was conditioned on a nondisclosure agreement.

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

4 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill prohibits the use of public funds for settlements and awards related to sexual harassment claims under the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995.

  • 2 U.S.C. 1415

    subsection (c) → subsections (c) and (d)

    This change expands the exceptions to include subsection (d), effectively prohibiting funds for sexual harassment claims.

  • 2 U.S.C. 1415

    No Use of Public Funds for Payments of Awards and Settlements in Connection With Acts of Sexual Harassment.--No funds of the Treasury of the United States, including the account described in subsection (a), an account of the House of Representatives or Senate, or any other account of the Federal Government, may be used for the payment of an award or settlement in connection with a violation of section 201(a)(1) if the violation consists of an act of sexual harassment or sexual assault.

    This addition explicitly prohibits the use of public funds for settlements or awards related to sexual harassment or sexual assault.

  • 2 U.S.C. 1401

    Except as otherwise provided → (a) Procedures Available.--Except as otherwise provided

    This rephrases the introductory clause for clarity and organization.

  • 2 U.S.C. 1401

    Prohibiting Imposition of Nondisclosure Agreements as Prerequisite for Procedures.--A nondisclosure agreement may not be imposed on any party as a condition of the initiation of any of the procedures available under this title for consideration of a violation of part A of title II if the violation consists of an act of sexual harassment or sexual assault.

    This addition prohibits the requirement of nondisclosure agreements in cases involving sexual harassment or assault.

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 103 co-sponsors · 443 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (103)

Not signed on (443)

443 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

civil-rights labor
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 4494 do?
Congressional Accountability and Hush Fund Elimination Act This bill amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) to (1) prohibit the use of public funds for payments of awards and settlements resulting from violation of certain CAA rights and protections if the violation consists of sexual harassment or sexual assault, (2) prohibit an imposition of a nondisclosure agreement as a prerequisite for CAA procedures to consider the violation, and (3) permit an individual to publicize any information relating to such a prior award or settlement if it was conditioned on a nondisclosure agreement.
Who sponsors HR 4494?
HR 4494 is sponsored by Schneider, Bradley Scott (Democratic), Delaney, John K. (Democratic), Brat, Dave (Republican), Bustos, Cheri (Democratic), Loebsack, David (Democratic), Gabbard, Tulsi (Democratic), Williams, Roger (Republican), Gallego, Ruben (Democratic), Rice, Kathleen M. (Democratic), Cramer, Kevin (Republican), Messer, Luke (Republican), Moulton, Seth (Democratic), Cooper, Jim (Democratic), Biggs, Andy (Republican), Bacon, Don (Republican), Bergman, Jack (Republican), Rooney, Francis (Republican), Hice, Jody B. (Republican), Scott, David (Democratic), Palmer, Gary J. (Republican), Fitzpatrick, Brian K. (Republican), Johnson, Mike (Republican), O'Halleran, Tom (Democratic), McSally, Martha (Republican), Tipton, Scott R. (Republican), Banks, Jim (Republican), Yoho, Ted S. (Republican), Pittenger, Robert (Republican), Polis, Jared (Democratic), Black, Diane (Republican), Rokita, Todd (Republican), Blackburn, Marsha (Republican), Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" (Republican), Jones, Walter B., Jr. (Republican), Norton, Eleanor Holmes (Democratic), Pearce, Stevan (Republican), Pingree, Chellie (Democratic), Norman, Ralph (Republican), Marino, Tom (Republican), Sinema, Kyrsten (Independent), Duncan, Jeff (Republican), Posey, Bill (Republican), Costa, Jim (Democratic), Lance, Leonard (Republican), Gottheimer, Josh (Democratic), Walters, Mimi (Republican), Khanna, Ro (Democratic), Blum, Rod (Republican), Rothfus, Keith J. (Republican), Ryan, Tim (Democratic), Walker, Mark (Republican), Buck, Ken (Republican), Gallagher, Mike (Republican), Rooney, Thomas J. (Republican), Sanford, Mark (Republican), Katko, John (Republican), Lieu, Ted (Democratic), Latta, Robert E. (Republican), Rosen, Jacky (Democratic), Schweikert, David (Republican), LaMalfa, Doug (Republican), Gibbs, Bob (Republican), McKinley, David B. (Republican), Lujan Grisham, Michelle (Democratic), Buchanan, Vern (Republican), Guthrie, Brett (Republican), Labrador, Raul R. (Republican), Smith, Jason (Republican), Johnson, Bill (Republican), Murphy, Stephanie N. (Democratic), Kilmer, Derek (Democratic), Meadows, Mark (Republican), Newhouse, Dan (Republican), Budd, Ted (Republican), Walden, Greg (Republican), Barletta, Lou (Republican), Veasey, Marc A. (Democratic), Herrera Beutler, Jaime (Republican), Royce, Edward R. (Republican), Marchant, Kenny (Republican), González-Colón, Jenniffer (Republican), Knight, Stephen (Republican), Bost, Mike (Republican), Grothman, Glenn (Republican), Brooks, Mo (Republican), Jenkins, Lynn (Republican), Conaway, K. Michael (Republican), Issa, Darrell (Republican), Ross, Dennis A. (Republican), Gianforte, Greg (Republican), Stefanik, Elise M. (Republican), Comstock, Barbara (Republican), Frelinghuysen, Rodney P. (Republican), Thompson, Glenn (Republican), Paulsen, Erik (Republican), LaHood, Darin (Republican), Taylor, Scott (Republican), Bishop, Mike (Republican), Young, David (Republican), Grijalva, Raúl M. (Democratic), McClintock, Tom (Republican), Mooney, Alexander X. (Republican), Calvert, Ken (Republican), and DeSantis, Ron (Republican).
What is the current status of HR 4494?
This bill died with 115th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 4494?
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