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119-hr-2406119th CongressWALLET

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

Passed House

Summary

Preventing and addressing sexual harassment and assault at NOAA. This bill would strengthen prevention, reporting, investigation, and accountability across NOAA by adding “equal employment” to policy scope, expanding who counts as covered personnel, requiring case synopses and disciplinary disclosures, tightening reporting for mariners and vessels, and adding a disqualification for certain sexual offenders from the NOAA officer corps.

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  • Would expand protected and covered personnel to explicitly include observers, at-sea monitors, catch monitors, and Regional Fishery Management Council staff. NOAA would have to disclose a synopsis and disposition of each case and summarize disciplinary actions and transfer or relocation requests.
  • Would create new reporting paths and investigation rules for mariners and vessels, require vessel reports to the Coast Guard, and let criminal referrals start earlier or during prosecution with Coast Guard involvement for licensed mariners. It also broadens the scope of prohibited harassment or assault-related acts in maritime law by removing the words "forcibly" and "on a vessel."
  • Would add a new disqualification in NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps eligibility that bars individuals convicted of specified sexual offenses from serving by cross-reference to the existing prohibition.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Clearer who NOAA rules protect

If enacted, the bill would define who counts as “covered personnel.” It would include NOAA workers, observers, at-sea and catch monitors on vessels, barges, platforms, and in shoreside plants, and Regional Fishery Management Council members and staff. It would name the NOAA marine operations director as the responsible entity for NOAA vessels. It would adopt the federal definition of “sexual assault” by reference and use the new terms across the subtitle.

Faster vessel reporting and Coast Guard notice

If enacted, the person in charge of a vessel would have to tell the Coast Guard right away about sexual harassment or assault involving NOAA mariners or contracted crew. Restricted, confidential reports would be exempt. Reports must use the fastest method and include names, mariner numbers if any, roles, contact info, vessel name and number, time, location, and a short description. The Secretary would notify NOAA’s marine operations of each report. The bill would also allow criminal referrals at the start or during a case and require including the Coast Guard Commandant for licensed mariners, along with the U.S. Attorney.

More detail in NOAA harassment reports

If enacted, NOAA would rename its yearly report to cover sexual harassment, sexual assault, and equal employment. The report would list the number and type of cases, plus a short summary, outcome, and any discipline for each case. It would summarize transfer or work-location change requests made for safety, including denials. It would list cases sent to the Coast Guard under the new mariner reporting rule. For observers, it would include the status of each case, how the investigation ended, and where and what kind of operation the incident involved. The report would also include data required by the No FEAR Act where specified.

Wider ban on harassment in fisheries

If enacted, the fisheries law would drop the words “forcibly” and “on a vessel” from a key prohibited-acts rule. This would cover non‑forcible acts and acts that happen off a vessel, broadening protections and enforcement.

Sex offenders barred from NOAA Corps

If enacted, people convicted of certain sexual offenses would not be allowed to serve in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. The bill would add a cross‑reference to the existing federal prohibition and renumber one paragraph. It would not list the offenses in this section.

Stronger confidential reporting and privacy rules

If enacted, NOAA could share a reporter’s name only in limited cases: with written consent, to prevent serious danger, to provide victim services, or when a court or law requires it. The Secretary would try to notify the person and protect their privacy if disclosure happens. The Secretary would have up to three years to update restricted-reporting rules. Those rules would let covered personnel report and get services without sharing their name (except as allowed) and without starting an investigation automatically.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

OR • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Salazar, Maria Elvira [R-FL-27]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 3/27/2025

  • Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/27/2025

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 3/31/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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