This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a policy to end harassment and sexual assault, including sexual and gender-based harassment, at its facilities. The VA must also designate points of contact at each VA facility, Veterans Integrated Service Network, and at the Central Office of the VA to receive reports of harassment and sexual assault.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4554 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4554
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to establish and implement a comprehensive anti-
harassment and anti-sexual assault policy of the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 27, 2019
Ms. Brownley of California introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to establish and implement a comprehensive anti-
harassment and anti-sexual assault policy of the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ANTI-HARASSMENT AND ANTI-SEXUAL ASSAULT POLICY OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 533. Anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault policy
``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
establish a comprehensive policy to end harassment and sexual assault,
including sexual and gender-based harassment, at all facilities of the
Department of Veterans Affairs. This policy shall include the
following:
``(1) Responses to incidents of harassment and sexual
assault committed by any veteran or other public visitor within
a facility of the Department.
``(2) Responses to incidents of harassment and sexual
assault of any veteran or other public visitor within a
facility of the Department.
``(3) A process for reporting and responding to harassment
and sexual assault described in paragraph (1).
``(4) A process for reporting and responding to harassment
and sexual assault described in paragraph (2).
``(5) A mandatory reporting requirement applicable to any
employee or contractor of the Department who witnesses
harassment or sexual assault within a facility of the
Department.
``(6) Mandatory annual training for employees and
contractors of the Department regarding how to report and
address harassment and sexual assault described in paragraphs
(1) and (2).
``(7) Annual distribution of anti-harassment and anti-
sexual assault educational materials by mail or email to each
individual entitled to a benefit under a law administered by
the Secretary.
``(8) The prominent display of anti-harassment and anti-
sexual assault messages in each facility of the Department,
including how to report harassment and sexual assault at such
facility.
``(9) The posting of anti-harassment and anti-sexual
assault banners on websites of the Department, including
eBenefits.va.gov and myHealthEVet.va.gov.
``(b) Points of Contact.--The Secretary shall designate, as a point
of contact to receive reports of harassment and sexual assault--
``(1) at least one individual at each facility of the
Department, with regards to that facility;
``(2) at least one individual employed in each Veterans
Integrated Service Network (`VISN'), with regards to facilities
in that VISN; and
``(3) at least one individual employed at the Central
Office of the Department to track reports of harassment across
the Department, disaggregated by facility.
``(c) Reporting.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of
Representatives an annual report on harassment and sexual assault in
facilities of the Department. Each such report shall include the
following:
``(1) Results of harassment and sexual assault programming,
including the End Harassment program.
``(2) Results of studies from the Women's Health Practice
Based Research Network related to harassment and sexual
assault.
``(3) Data collected on incidents of sexual harassment and
sexual assault.
``(4) A description of any actions taken by the Secretary
during the year preceding the date of the report to stop
harassment and sexual assault at facilities of the Department.
``(5) An assessment of the implementation of the training
required in subsection (a)(5).
``(6) A list of resources the Secretary determines
necessary to prevent harassment and sexual assault at
facilities of the Department.''.
(b) Technical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section
532 the following new item:
``533. Anti-harassment and anti-sexual assault policy.''.
(c) Deadline.--The Secretary shall carry out section 533 of such
title, as added by subsection (a), not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
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