{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/congressman-backs-legislation-aimed-stopping-companies-writing-sexual", "Congressman Backs Legislation Aimed At Stopping Companies From Writing Off Sexual Misconduct Suits As Business Expenses", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Brian Fitzpatrick", "F000466", "fitzpatrick.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, along with representatives from across the country, have introduced a piece of legislation aimed at prohibiting companies from claiming deductions related to sexual harassment or assault legal settlements.\nThe\u00a0Settlement Tax Deductions are Over for Predators Act(STOP Act), would prohibit companies from filing legal settlements, fines, fees, and expenses related to sexual assault and harassment cases as business expenses and claiming tax related deductions. In allowing businesses to currently write off these expenses, the American taxpayer is subsidizing the cost of resolving legal issues related to sexual misconduct. The STOP Act would prohibit deduction of these expenses in cases where the allegations are public or in cases involving a non-disclosure agreement.\n\u00a0\n\u201cWhether it\u2019s Hollywood, Congress or a corporate boardroom, there is no place for sexual abuse or harassment in the workplace. Just as I\u2019m committed to protecting taxpayer dollars from being misused in Washington to cover up sexual misconduct allegations, I\u2019m also committed to preventing private sector businesses from using tax breaks to sweep these heinous acts under the rug,\u201d Fitzpatrick, a Republican, said in a statement. \u201cThis Congress must stand with the victims of this harassment and take swift action to root out those who would sexually harass any other person, regardless of position or title.\u201d\nCurrently, companies can deduct as ordinary and necessary business expenses any legal settlements, fines, fees, and expenses related to sexual assault and sexual harassment cases. In allowing businesses to write off these expenses, the American taxpayer is effectively subsidizing the cost of resolving legal issues related to sexual misconduct.\n\u00a0\nThe\u00a0Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which is being considered by the U.S. Senate, includes similar language.\nThe introduction of legislation into the House comes after Fitzpatrick\u2019s call for an investigation last month into the millions of dollars paid for more than 250 settlements to federal employees.\nIn mid-November, the\u00a0Washington Post reported\u00a0that Congress had made\u00a0264 settlements with Capitol Hill employees for various infractions, including sexual harassment. The newspaper said the settlements totaled $17 million over 20 years.\nSince the Washington Post\u2019s reporting on the settlements,\u00a0BuzzFeed News broke the story\u00a0that Democratic Congressman John Conyers of Michigan settled a complaint using funds from his office budget in 2015. The former employee said she lost her job after not falling for his sexual advances.\u00a0Conyers announced this week\u00a0that he will leave congress.\nMore recently, Republican Congressman\u00a0Blake Farenthold of Texas was sued by his former communications director for sexual harassment in 2014. The matter was settled with the congressman denying any wrongdoing and using $84,000 in public funds to settle the case.\n\u201cIt\u2019s unbelievable \u2013 and unacceptable \u2013 that elected officials have been using taxpayer dollars to cover up sexual harassment suits for years. As if the American people needed another example of politicians playing by a different set of rules, this\u00a0is an affront to the hardworking taxpayers forced to foot the bill for these heinous actions,\u201d said Fitzpatrick.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/congressman-backs-legislation-aimed-stopping-companies-writing-sexual"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.9071120768785477, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}