Democratic Women’s Caucus Applauds House Passage of the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act

CONTACT: Michelle Moreno-Silva

Washington, D.C. – Today, Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Co-Chairs Congresswomen Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), Jackie Speier (CA-14), and Lois Frankel (FL-21), and Vice Chairs Congresswomen Veronica Escobar (TX-16) and Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) issued the following statement on the House of Representatives passage of H.R. 4445, Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021, introduced by DWC Member Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17).

“Forced arbitration has silenced survivors of sexual assault and harassment for far too long,” said DWC leadership. “House passage of H.R. 4445 is an important step forward in ending a culture of silence that has long empowered sexual predators in the workplace and will provide survivors the opportunity to speak openly about the crimes and misconduct committed against them and have their day in court should they so choose.”

“We’ve heard a flood of stories of sexual assault and harassment that has gone unchecked for far too long. But little known legal agreements hidden in all sorts of places have continued to bar millions of Americans from speaking out or seeking justice. From employment paperwork and lease agreements to the terms and conditions for apps and services, the majority of Americans have unknowingly signed their rights away,” said Congresswoman Bustos. “Nullifying these ‘forced arbitration’ clauses for sexual assault and harassment claims will let survivors’ voices be heard. The legislation we passed on the House Floor today will do away with these predatory pitfalls – and I’m proud to say that it has widespread support among Democrats and Republicans and in the House and Senate.”

The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act would stop perpetrators from being able to push survivors of sexual harassment and assault into the secretive, biased process of forced arbitration. This important legislation would invalidate forced arbitration clauses that prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment survivors from seeking justice and public accountability under the laws meant to protect them.

H.R. 4445 passed the House of Representatives on February 7, 2022, by a vote of 335-97.

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