Congressional Accountability Act Enhancement Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8126
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-26: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-03T08:07:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill, titled the Congressional Accountability Act Enhancement Act, amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) to increase accountability for employment discrimination by Members of Congress, improve claim-filing processes for affected employees, and expand support for employees pursuing legal remedies.
Key Provisions
- Member Reimbursement for Discrimination (Sec. 2(a)): Requires Members of Congress to personally repay the U.S. Treasury for any settlements or awards paid due to their own violations of CAA sections 201(a) (discrimination based on protected traits like race, sex, or disability) or 206(a) (sexual harassment).
- Reimbursement for Retaliation by Other Offices (Sec. 2(b)): Mandates that other congressional employing offices (e.g., committees or leadership offices) reimburse the Treasury for settlements/awards involving retaliation against employees for filing discrimination claims.
- Amended Claims Allowed (Sec. 3): Permits employees to file an amended claim within 10 days if a hearing officer's initial review determines they are not a "covered employee" (e.g., congressional staffer eligible under CAA) or have not stated a valid claim. Failure to amend or a second invalid determination blocks a formal hearing but allows a civil lawsuit.
- Employee Advocacy Assistance (Sec. 4): Authorizes the House's Office of Employee Advocacy to help House-covered employees with investigations or proceedings, even after they file a civil lawsuit under the CAA.
- Effective Dates: Changes apply to claims filed on or after enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands Reimbursement: Previously limited; now mandates full Treasury reimbursement by Members for all personal discrimination acts (not just some cases) and adds retaliation claims for other offices.
- Introduces Claim Amendments: New process allows fixing initial deficiencies in claims, previously leading directly to dismissal without recourse beyond lawsuit.
- Overrides House Rule: Supersedes a prior House resolution restricting the Office of Employee Advocacy from assisting post-lawsuit filing.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases financial burden on Treasury (via reimbursements); streamlines internal processes, potentially reducing formal hearings and lawsuits.
- On Citizens/Employees: Empowers congressional staff by easing claim corrections and providing advocacy support, improving access to remedies for discrimination or retaliation.
- On Congress: Holds Members personally financially accountable, acting as a deterrent; applies only to future claims.
- No Direct International Relations Impact.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Members of Congress: Directly liable for personal reimbursements.
- Covered Employees: Congressional staff gaining easier claim processes and advocacy aid.
- Employing Offices: Must reimburse for retaliation cases.
- Office of Employee Advocacy and Hearing Officers: Expanded roles in assistance and reviews.
- U.S. Treasury: Recovers settlement funds.
- Executive Director of the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights: Involved in notifications.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Accountability and Deterrence: Strengthens anti-discrimination enforcement within Congress, aligning it closer to private-sector standards.
- Procedural Fairness: Reduces early dismissals, promoting due process for claimants without overwhelming the system (10-day limit).
- House Rulemaking Power: Explicitly invokes Congress's constitutional authority to set its internal rules, ensuring the change integrates as House procedure while allowing future amendments.
- No Broader Constitutional Challenges Noted: Focuses on statutory tweaks to CAA; neutral on separation of powers.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-26: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- 2026-03-26: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-26: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Congressional Accountability Act Enhancement Act — issued 2026-03-26 — PDF (7 pages)