On the recordMay 24, 2018
I certainly appreciate the opportunity we have had to work on this. Senator Klobuchar and I work together on the Rules Committee, as well, where I am the chairman and she is the ranking member, and the daily activities of the Senate come to us often. This was an action that created an opportunity where we looked at the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995. As Senator Klobuchar has suggested, there are things that may have been well-intended at the time, but they really put too many obligations and too many restrictions, in our view, on victims. Those things are all eliminated. Members of Congress, if they are personally involved in harassment, will be personally liable for the compensatory damages of that. I think it puts the responsibility where the American people think it should be. Both of our leaders have been very supportive--both Senator Schumer and Senator McConnell. Many of our Members were involved in drafting this legislation, and there were many more who, after they had time to look at the final product, cosponsored the legislation. I think approximately one-third of the Senate by the time this bill came to the floor were cosponsors of the bill. We look forward to this bill further defining what we see as our responsibilities. I am pleased to see the action of the Senate today with the unanimous clearance of every Senator on both sides, which enabled this bill to come to the floor and now has been approved.
