{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://marino.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-marino-introduces-legislation-requiring-repayment-taxpayer-dollars", "Rep. Marino Introduces Legislation Requiring Repayment of Taxpayer Dollars Used in Sexual Harassment Settlements by Members of Congres", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Tom Marino", "M001179", "marino.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Yesterday, Congressman Tom Marino (PA-10), introduced H.R. 4540, legislation requiring the repayment of taxpayer dollars used in sexual harassment settlements against a Member of Congress, including interest.\u00a0 The bill would also:\n Require the Office of Compliance (OOC) to publish a report listing all past and future awards and settlements against a Member of Congress relating to sexual harassment, including the identity of the Congressman or Senator while protecting the identity of the victim.\n\tProhibit the requirement of a nondisclosure agreement in order to reach a settlement.\n\tRelease prior victims of sexual assault from nondisclosure agreements, allowing them to publicly share their story if they choose.\n This legislation is a companion bill to H.R. 4458, introduced last week by Congressman Marino prohibiting the use of taxpayer funds in sexual harassment settlements against a Member of Congress.\nCongressman Marino said the following regarding the introduction of the bill:\n\u201cCongressmen and Senators should not be allowed to play by a different set of rules and held to a different set of standards than the American public.\u00a0 Sexual Harassment in the workplace is unacceptable by anyone and taxpayers should not be on the hook for the actions of others.\nMy legislation will bring transparency and accountability to the secretive process used when a victim settles a sexual harassment claim against a Member of Congress.\u00a0 By listing publicly past and future settlements, along with the identity of the Member of Congress who committed the act of sexual harassment, the American people can see and judge for themselves.\nMy bill also protects the victim\u2019s identity while releasing them from any nondisclosure agreement signed along with a settlement, allowing them to come forward if they choose.\u00a0 Going forward, nondisclosure agreements are prohibited as a requirement of receiving a settlement.\u00a0 This legislation, along with H.R. 4458, will bring much-needed transparency and taxpayer accountability to a broken process.\u201d", 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://marino.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-marino-introduces-legislation-requiring-repayment-taxpayer-dollars"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4432030729949474, "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"}