Bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues
Together with my co-chair Rep. Lois Frankel (D-FL) and vice co-chairs Rep. Mimi Walters (R-CA) and Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), we work to lead the Bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues. The caucus is an important, bipartisan forum to discuss major policy issues of our day with a focus on how these issues impact women and families. It is comprised of all 88 Republican and Democratic women House Members. In the past, this caucus has been a driving force for a strong Violence Against Women Act and for the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
In 2017, members of the Bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues worked together to introduce and pass H.R. 1973, the Protecting Young Athletes from Sexual Abuse Act, which requires amateur athletic governing bodies to:
- promptly report suspected cases of abuse to law enforcement,
- institute mandatory training for all members of the national governing body or a facility under the jurisdiction of the national governing body and adults authorized by such members to interact with minor or amateur athletes, and
- implement policies and procedures for preventing, reporting, and addressing allegations of sexual abuse.
The Protecting Young Athletes from Sexual Abuse Act stems from recent allegations of sexual abuse made against personnel involved with USA Gymnastics, USA Swimming and USA Taekwondo. According to the Indianapolis Star, over the past 20 years, at least 368 victims, many of whom were young athletes, were subjected to sexual abuse by coaches, doctors or other adults affiliated with USA Gymnastics. Although USA Gymnastics received reports of abuse, victims claimed that USA Gymnastics allowed the abuse allegations to remain dormant, including complaints made against coaches who trained and abused young athletes in multiple states.
Watch a video of Rep. Frankel and me talking about the H.R. 1973 immediately after it passed the House here.
More on Bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues
Republican congresswomen serving on the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues targeted solutions to sexual harassment in the United States workforce during the bipartisan group’s recent Capitol Hill hearing on the topic.
WASHINGTON, DC – As the one-year anniversary of the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault and harassment allegations approaches, the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues hosted a hearing about sexual harassment entitled, “#MeToo, What’s Next? Turning a Movement into Action.” Caucus members heard from leaders from a number of industries to discuss ways to promote respect and dignity in the workplace, and ultimately to find innovative and creative solutions to the problem of workplace harassment.
WASHINGTON, DC – Wednesday, the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing to examine the pervasiveness of sexual misconduct within the U.S. Olympic community and whether there are adequate policies and procedures in place to protect athletes at all levels of sport moving forward.
WASHINGTON – Executives with major sport governing bodies, including Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics, appeared before Congress Wednesday, facing tough questions about their ongoing response to sexual abuse allegations.
“What are you doing to protect these young people right now so this never happens again?” Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan) demanded to know.
U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks (R-IN), Mimi Walters (R-CA) and Barbara Comstock (R-VA) led members of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues in hosting a hearing this week that explored sexual harassment in male-dominated fields, as well as strategies to effect change in workplace cultures.
WASHINGTON, DC – The bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues hosted a hearing about sexual harassment in male-dominated jobs entitled, “From Silicon Valley to the Factory Floor: Time’s Up for Sexual Harassment in Male-Dominated Jobs.” Caucus members heard from survivors of sexual harassment in fields where women are often outnumbered, as well as from other experts on the issue, to discuss ways to change the culture in the workplace.
The bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues hosted a hearing about sexual harassment in male-dominated jobs entitled, “From Silicon Valley to the Factory Floor: Time’s Up for Sexual Harassment in Male-Dominated Jobs.” Caucus members heard from survivors of sexual harassment in fields where women are often outnumbered, as well as from other experts on the issue, to discuss ways to change the culture in the workplace.
U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks (R-IN), Mimi Walters (R-CA) and Barbara Comstock (R-VA), members of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, seek to stop sexual harassment in the nation’s service industry, which over a decade has been responsible for a sizable chunk of related complaints filed with the federal government.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues hosted a hearing about sexual harassment in the service sector entitled, “Beyond the Headlines: Combating Service Sector Sexual Harassment in the Age of #MeToo.” Members of Congress heard from survivors of sexual harassment as well as professionals with expertise on the issue, and discussed with participants ways to change the culture in the workplace.
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VOA’s newest TV program, Plugged in with Greta Van Susteren, marked International Women’s Day with a conversation with Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN), chairwoman of the House Ethics Committee and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues. Rep. Brooks discussed initiatives she and other Members of Congress have led to bolster women’s rights in the U.S. and around the world.
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