Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. BONAMICI. 2695, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2695, the Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act, which I am pleased to cosponsor.

In 2017, the Me Too movement sparked a national reckoning with the pervasiveness of sexual harassment. The academic workplace has not been spared. One study found that 58 percent of faculty and staff at universities have experienced sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment is detrimental to individuals, often impeding career advancement and leading some to leave academia entirely. Sexual harassment also has significant consequences on the entire scientific enterprise, depriving our most critical STEM fields of skilled researchers, particularly from groups already underrepresented in STEM.

In 2018, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a report examining the contributing factors to sexual harassment in academia and the effects on women in science, technology, and medicine. The Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act includes key recommendations from the Academies' report and takes further steps to combat sexual harassment in STEM.

The National Science Foundation and other agencies have already taken significant steps to address the scourge of sexual harassment in STEM. Unfortunately, not all agencies have taken this issue as seriously, and the patchwork of policies and approaches causes confusion and increases administrative burden on grantees. This legislation helps make sure that we have consistent, governmentwide policies.

H.R. 2695 requires a coordinated approach to address sexual harassment at grant-receiving institutions and across our Federal agencies, including by requiring OSTP to issue uniform policy guidance for sexual harassment reporting at Federal science agencies.

The bill also authorizes NSF research on the contributing factors to STEM workplace harassment.

Finally, the bill would require an important follow-up study by the National Academies.

The Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act was developed following extensive consultation with experts on sexual harassment and key stakeholders, including universities. At present, 24 organizations have endorsed this bill, representing a wide spectrum of scientific disciplines, student groups, and professions.

I want to thank Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas for introducing this important bill. I also want to thank all of the cosponsors of this bipartisan effort. I urge everyone here to help us take action toward eliminating sexual harassment in the sciences.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R.

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