WASHINGTON – The House took a bipartisan step toward ending so called “congressional hush funds” on Tuesday by passing a bill aimed at getting taxpayers off the hook from paying to hide lawmakers’ bad behavior.
The Congressional Accountability and Hush Fund Elimination Act, introduced by Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), would prohibit taxpayer dollars from being used to settle sexual harassment claims on the Hill, and it also requires any member who has benefited from a settlement to pay back the money with interest.
“The American people deserve to know who has taken advantage of this taxpayer-subsidized hush fund,” DeSantis said in a statement following the bill’s passage. “Today’s bill includes not only my proposed transparency provisions, but rightfully requires that members of Congress be held personally accountable for any future sexual harassment settlements.”
Congressional funds for sexual harassment lawsuits have been used in both the House and Senate.
Former Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), who recently resigned after a former staffer accused him of sexual misconduct, used $27,000 of taxpayer money to settle a wrongful dismissal complaint after the accuser rejected his sexual advances.
A 2015 investigation against GOP Congressman Blake Farenthold (R-TX) was dismissed when Farenthold reportedly used $84,000 of taxpayer funds to settle a sexual harassment and discrimination charge.
And according to the Office of Compliance, from 1997-2017, Senate offices have paid out nearly $600,000 in taxpayer money, but the report does not release the names of the senators or the accusers.
The measure now moves on to the Senate, but it is unclear when they will bring it to the floor for a vote or if it will pass.
“We must stand up for victims of sexual harassment, and these very necessary changes to the Congressional Accountability Act will foster a culture of respect on Capitol Hill,” said DeSantis. “The Senate should send this legislation to President Trump’s desk as quickly as possible.”
