Congressional Accountability Act Enhancement Act
Sponsored By: Representative Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would strengthen accountability for congressional employment discrimination settlements and expand protections and support for people who bring claims against Congress.
Show full summary
- Members and settlements: It would require Members to reimburse settlements and awards tied to certain employment discrimination violations named in statute. This makes individual Members financially responsible in more cases.
- Offices and staff: It would extend reimbursement obligations beyond individual Members to congressional offices and cover retaliation. Intimidation, reprisal, or discrimination taken because of a discrimination claim can trigger reimbursement.
- Claimants and filings: It would let someone file an amended claim if a hearing officer’s preliminary review finds they are not a covered employee or did not state a claim. The filer would have 10 days to amend or forfeit a formal hearing and may instead bring a civil action.
- Employee advocacy support: It would authorize the Office of Employee Advocacy to assist covered employees in investigations and civil actions, including after a civil suit is filed, and treats that assistance as a House rulemaking action.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More House employee advocacy access
If you are a covered House employee, the Office of Employee Advocacy would be allowed to help you with investigations or proceedings under the Congressional Accountability Act. The help could be provided at any time, including after you file a civil action under section 408. This change would apply notwithstanding section 724(c) of House Resolution 724 (115th Congress) and would be enacted as a House rule that overrides other House rules only to the extent they conflict.
Right to amend a failed claim
If a hearing officer's preliminary review finds you are not a covered employee or your claim does not state a claim for relief, you would be allowed to file an amended claim. You would have 10 days from the date the hearing officer submits the report to file the amended claim. The amended claim would get the same preliminary review as the original. If you do not file within 10 days, or the amended claim also fails, you could not obtain a formal hearing and the hearing officer must notify you and the Executive Director that you may file a civil action under section 408. Library claimants would be included in this process. These rules would apply to claims made on or after the date of enactment.
Member and office repayment rules
If enacted, the bill would require Members of Congress to reimburse the Treasury for settlement or award amounts when the finding is a violation of certain workplace discrimination rules (violations described in the bill). It would also expand reimbursement rules for other employing offices to cover (A) the same discrimination violations and (B) unlawful intimidation, reprisal, or discrimination under the Act that is taken because someone filed such a discrimination claim. The bill would update related notification rules and would apply to claims made on or after the date of enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/26/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov