Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Tuesday, November 25, Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Mark Takano (CA-39), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Andriano Espaillat (NY-13), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Grace Meng (NY-06) led 74 House Democrats in a letter to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Chair Andrea Lucas, expressing urgent concern about her intent to rescind the EEOC’s Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace.  This comprehensive guidance, published in 2024, covers more than 75 instances of harassment for employers to reference, including examples involving survivors of gender-based violence and pregnant workers, in order to help foster a safe and inclusive workplace. 

Since the start of her tenure, Lucas has consistently undermined protections for women and vulnerable workers. Now, she wants to rescind guidance intended to protect workers from harassment at work, including instructions on anti-harassment policies, trainings, and complaint processes. When workers aren’t safe, included, or provided adequate protections at work, that also harms our workforce, and ultimately, our economy. Rescinding the guidance will particularly harm those who are already marginalized in the workplace.

The Members underscored the importance of comprehensive harassment guidance, explaining that harassment is serious and far too common:

“The stakes for marginalized workers could not be higher. Studies suggest that as many as 60% of women experience workplace sexual harassment. A 2023 survey found that almost 50% of LGBTQI+ employees have experienced discrimination or harassment at work because of their sexual orientation or gender identity during their lifetime. Additionally, 41% of Black workers, 25% of Asian American workers, and 20% of Hispanic workers have reported experiencing discrimination based on their race or ethnicity. In FY 2024 alone, the EEOC received 35,774 charges alleging harassment, constituting 40% of total charges received. Behind these statistics are real people who have come forward to vindicate their rights and prevent harm to others. By sharing their stories, these workers shine a bright light on the ways in which harassment is an abuse of power, harming survivors’ well-being and economic security. Any rescission of the harassment guidance would jeopardize their right to a safe workplace and a pathway to justice.”

The Members urged Lucas to retain the harassment guidance to protect women and vulnerable populations at work:

“Everyone deserves a safe and inclusive workplace. Instead of rolling back decades of progress for marginalized workers, including women, LGBTQI+ workers, and workers of color, in service of an extreme ideological crusade, we encourage you to retain the harassment guidance and protect all workers against discrimination.”

Read the full letter here. 

In addition to letter leads Teresa Leger Fernández, Mark Takano, Andriano Espaillat, Yvette D. Clarke, and Grace Meng, the letter was signed by Gabe Amo, Becca Balint, Nanette Barragán, Joyce Beatty, Wesley Bell, Donald Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Julia Brownley, Shontel Brown, Nikki Budzinski, André Carson, Sean Casten, Judy Chu, Emanuel Cleaver, Danny Davis, Madeleine Dean, Diana DeGette, Mark DeSaulnier, Maxine Dexter, Debbie Dingell, Sarah Elfreth, Dwight Evans, Lizzie Fletcher, Valerie Foushee, Lois Frankel, Sylvia Garcia, Daniel Goldman, Jimmy Gomez, Adelita Grijalva, Steven Horsford, Sara Jacobs, Pramila Jayapal, Timothy Kennedy, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Summer Lee, Ted Lieu, Stephen Lynch, Sarah McBride, Jennifer McClellan, LaMonica McIver, Gwen Moore, Kelly Morrison, Seth Moulton, Kevin Mullin, Eleanor Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Brittany Pettersen, Chellie Pingree, Stacey Plaskett, Mark Pocan, Nellie Pou, Ayanna Pressley, Delia Ramirez, Emily Randall, Deborah Ross, Andrea Salinas, Janice Schakowsky, Terri Sewell, Lateefah Simon, Adam Smith, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Paul Tonko, Norma Torres, Nydia Velázquez, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nikema Williams, and Frederica Wilson.. 

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