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1 1 (December 11, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govbiwt0001 and id is 1 raw text is: ~* or 101 ' Researh Servi kM- The Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act: An Overview December 11, 2019 Amid increased legislative and public attention to issues relating to harassment, the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act (CAA Reform Act) passed both chambers of Congress by unanimous consent and was signed into law on December 21, 2018. As the one-year-mark of the Act's passage approaches-and with an annual report required of the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights soon due in January 2020-this Legal Sidebar provides background on the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA), and an overview of several key changes resulting from the CAA Reform Act. Scope of the Congressional Accountability Act The CAA, codified at 2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq., generally makes certain labor and antidiscrimination protections applicable to the legislative branch, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA), among others. The CAA also has an anti-retaliation provision that prohibits reprisal or intimidation of an employee for reporting unlawful conduct under the CAA. With respect to these protections, the CAA identifies employees covered under the Act. The CAA also enumerates legislative branch employers, or employing offices, subject to the CAA's requirements. In addition to employees already covered under the CAA (such as House and Senate employees), the CAA Reform Act expanded the definition to include applicants for employment and former employees. Individuals who carry out official duties of an employing office but are unpaid-such as interns, fellows, or individuals detailed to an employing office-are now also protected under the CAA from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. The Administrative Resolution Process The CAA Reform Act made significant changes to the process by which covered employees can administratively resolve their CAA claims, including creating a new position of confidential advisor to assist covered employees, and making mediation a voluntary-rather than compulsory-part of the process. The Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR), an independent office within the Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov LSB10384 CRS Lega Sidebar Prepaed for Membeivs and Cornm ittees o4 Co q _gress ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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