releases: http://royce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398587
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://royce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398587 | Rep. Royce: Secret Taxpayer-Funded Settlements Betray the Trust of the American People | 2017-12-12 | 2017 | 2017-12 | Republican | House | CA | Edward Royce | R000487 | royce.house.gov | legacy | Rep. Royce: Secret Taxpayer-Funded Settlements Betray the Trust of the American People f t # e Washington, December 12, 2017 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Royce (R-CA) released the following statement after becoming a cosponsor of H.R. 4494, the Congressional Accountability and Hush Fund Elimination Act, legislation to inject accountability and transparency into the process for harassment claims paid out under the Congressional Accountability Act and ends the ability for Members of Congress to use taxpayer dollars to settle future sexual harassment or sexual assault claims:“Members of Congress are public servants of the people and should not be afforded a privileged status. There is absolutely no justification for Members of the House and Senate being able to use taxpayer dollars and forced non-disclosure agreements to cover up sexual harassment settlements. This not only betrays the trust of American taxpayers, it also creates incentives for bad behavior and produces a hostile work environment. This harmful practice must end now and I’m pleased to see so many of my colleagues—on both sides of the aisle—support this common sense legislation.” Background: (Courtesy of Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) The Congressional Accountability and Hush Fund Elimination Act will: Require disclosure within 30 calendar days of all settlement payments funded by taxpayers, the reason for the payment and the nature of the allegation, and the member of Congress or congressional staffer implicated in the matter. Prohibit the future use of taxpayer dollars to pay sexual harassment and sexual assault claims against members of Congress and staff. Prohibit members of Congress from using office budgets to camouflage payments. Require members of Congress and staff that have ever been named in a sexual harassment or sexual assault settlement paid for by taxpayers reimburse the U.S. Treasury with interest. Any individual who received an award may make public statements about the claims notwithstanding the terms of a nondisclosure agreement and nondisclosure agreements cannot be made a condition of any future settlements. The full text of H.R. 4494 can be found HERE. f t # e | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |