Sponsors (13)
The bill increases transparency, enforcement, and protections for House employees—strengthening accountability and workplace safety—while posing risks of reputational harm and due‑process concerns for Members, potential disruption to House operations from punitive measures, and added administrative and political costs.
House employees (including women and people with disabilities) will face stronger protections against employment discrimination and sexual harassment because the bill limits sexual relationships and unwelcome advances by Members and affirms Members must follow House rules.
Taxpayers benefit from increased transparency and stronger enforcement because Members and former Members who owe reimbursements will be publicly identified and the Sergeant-at-Arms and Clerk are notified to centralize tracking and enforcement.
Federal employees and the institution gain from clearer accountability because the bill reiterates that Members must follow House rules, promoting institutional integrity and accountability.
Suspending committee or leadership duties for Members who don't comply could disrupt House operations and delay legislative business, affecting lawmaking and services paid for by taxpayers.
Members and former Members publicly named for owing reimbursements risk reputational harm, public humiliation, and privacy or due‑process concerns if amounts or disputes remain unresolved or are under appeal.
Enforcement of workplace rules and disciplinary actions could be perceived as politically charged or partisan, undermining trust among House employees and fueling internal conflict.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires public disclosure and House-well readings of OCWR report details for Members/former Members who owe reimbursements and enforces sanctions for noncompliance.
Official title: Directing Members required to reimburse the Treasury for payments related to certain claims to appear before the Clerk for public disclosure of the reasons for the reimbursement.
Introduced April 13, 2026 by Stephanie I. Bice · Last progress April 13, 2026
Requires House officials to immediately share semiannual Office of Congressional Workplace Rights reports with any current or former Member who owes reimbursement to the U.S. Treasury for a workplace-claim payment, and to the Sergeant-at-Arms with a list of such Members. It forces named Members to appear publicly in the House well for a reading of their name, reimbursable amounts, reimbursement status, and related report details, and imposes sanctions (suspension of committee and leadership duties) for specified noncompliance and referral options for alleged deception. Affirms House rules forbidding discrimination and sexual harassment, restates prohibitions on Members having sexual relationships with employees they supervise and on unwelcome sexual advances, and declares such conduct violative of House rules and damaging to the institution's reputation.