United States 115th Congress Status: Died 1 D cosponsors

HR 4705 — Me Too Congressional Ethics Act

Last action — Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. Died in session

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This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis.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

Summary

Me Too Congressional Ethics Act This bill amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) to: (1) require the automatic referral to the congressional ethics committees of the final disposition of any allegation that an employing office of the House of Representatives or Senate violated certain CAA rights and protections, and (2) allow the employee alleging such violation to request a waiver of the referral or requirements to provide the congressional ethics committees with access to records and information regarding the allegation.

Bill Text

Sections of law this bill changes

1 section in 1 law

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-124).

Congressional accountability · 2 U.S.C. ch. 24 1 section
  • § 1416 Confidentiality Amends

    2 U.S.C. § 1416 — at 1416(d)

    The law today

    (a) Mediation All information discussed or disclosed in the course of any mediation shall be strictly confidential, and the Executive Director shall notify each person participating in the mediation of the confidentiality requirement and of the sanctions applicable to any person who violates the confidentiality requirement. (b) Hearings and deliberations Except as provided in subsections (c), (d), and (e), all proceedings and deliberations of hearing officers and the Board, including any related records, shall be confidential. This subsection shall not apply to proceedings under section 1341 of this title, but shall apply to the deliberations of hearing officers and the Board under that section. The Executive Director shall notify each person participating in a proceeding or deliberation to which this subsection applies of the requirements of this subsection and of the sanctions applicable to any person who violates the requirements of this subsection. (c) Release of records for judicial action The records of hearing officers and the Board may be made public if required for the purpose of judicial review under section 1407 of this title. (d) Automatic referral to Congressional Ethics Committee of dispositions of claims involving Members of Congress and senior staff (1) Referral Upon the final disposition under this subchapter (as described in paragraph (6)) of a claim alleging a violation described in section 1415(d)(1)(C) of this title committed personally by a Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) or a Senator, or by a senior staff of the House of Representatives or Senate, the Executive Director shall refer the claim to— (A) the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives, in the case of a Member or senior staff of the House; or (B) the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate, in the case of a Senator or senior staff of the Senate. (2) Access to records and information If the Executive Director refers a claim to a Committee under paragraph (1), the Executive Director shall provide the Committee with access to the records of any preliminary reviews, hearings, or decisions of the hearing officers and the Board under this chapter, and any information relating to an award or settlement paid, in response to such claim. (3) Review by Senate ethics committee of settlements of certain claims After the receipt of a settlement agreement for a claim that includes an allegation of a violation described in section 1415(d)(1)(C) of this title committed personally by a Senator, the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate shall— (A) not later than 90 days after that receipt, review the settlement agreement; (B) determine whether an investigation of the claim is warranted; and (C) if the Select Committee determines, after the investigation, that the claim that resulted in the settlement involved an actual violation described in section 1415(d)(1)(C) of this title committed personally by the Senator, then the Select Committee shall notify the Executive Director to request the reimbursement described in section 1415(d) of this title and include the settlement in the report required by section 1381(l) of this title. (4) Protection of personally identifiable information If a Committee to which a claim is referred under paragraph (1) issues a report with respect to the claim, the Committee shall ensure that the report does not directly disclose the identity or position of the individual who filed the claim. (5) Committee authority to protect identity of a claimant (A) Authority If a Committee to which a claim is referred under paragraph (1) issues a report as described in paragraph (4) concerning a Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) or a Senator, or a senior staff of the House of Representatives or Senate, the Committee may make an appropriate redaction to the information or data included in the report...

    11 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

How this bill changes current law

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

The bill requires automatic referral of allegations of violations of part A of title II of the Congressional Accountability Act to the congressional ethics committees.

  • 2 U.S.C. § 1416

    the referral to— → the referral to--

    The formatting of the text is standardized.

  • 2 U.S.C. § 1416

    Upon the final disposition under this subchapter (as described in paragraph (6)) of a claim alleging a violation described in section 1415(d)(1)(C) of this title committed personally by a Member of the House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) or a Senator, or by a senior staff of the House of Representatives or Senate, the Executive Director shall refer the claim to— → Upon the final disposition under this title of an allegation that an employing office of the House of Representatives or an employing office of the Senate has committed a violation of part A of title II, the Executive Director shall refer the allegation to--

    The bill expands the type of allegations requiring referral to include those by employing offices of Congress.

  • 2 U.S.C. § 1416

    the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives, in the case of a Member or senior staff of the House; or → the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives, in the case of an employing office of the House; or

    Specifies that referrals pertain to employing offices rather than just individual members or staff.

  • 2 U.S.C. § 1416

    the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate, in the case of a Senator or senior staff of the Senate. → the Select Committee on Ethics of the Senate, in the case of an employing office of the Senate.

    Clarifies that referrals also target employing offices in the Senate.

  • 2 U.S.C. § 1416

    the requirements of this subsection → paragraph (1) or paragraph (2)

    Updates the reference to specify which parts of the process can be waived at the covered employee's request.

  • 2 U.S.C. § 1416

    of a claim, including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) or a Senator, or by a senior staff of the House of Representatives or Senate, → of an allegation described in paragraph (1),

    Streamlines language to focus on allegations rather than claims related to individual members or senior staff.

  • 2 U.S.C. § 1416

    which had been no longer subject to appeal. → which is no longer subject to appeal.

    Clarifies the conditions under which a decision becomes final.

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  4. Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 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.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
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Frequently asked questions

What does HR 4705 do?
Me Too Congressional Ethics Act This bill amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) to: (1) require the automatic referral to the congressional ethics committees of the final disposition of any allegation that an employing office of the House of Representatives or Senate violated certain CAA rights and protections, and (2) allow the employee alleging such violation to request a waiver of the referral or requirements to provide the congressional ethics committees with access to records and information regarding the allegation.
Who sponsors HR 4705?
HR 4705 is sponsored by Wasserman Schultz, Debbie (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 4705?
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 4705?
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