It took months of negotiations, but House and Senate lawmakers struck a deal Wednesday on what, exactly, the new Capitol Hill policy should look like. The final bill sailed through the House and Senate on Thursday by unanimous consent. All that’s left now is for President Donald Trump to sign it. (The irony is not lost on this reporter.)
The new law "will focus on protecting victims, strengthening transparency, holding Members accountable for their personal conduct, and improving the adjudication process," reads a statement by Reps. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.), Robert Brady (D-Pa.), Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.) and Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), top House negotiators on the bill.
Lawmakers agreed to get rid of some outdated provisions. Under the current law, which has been in place since 1995, Capitol Hill staffers who claim they’ve been harassed or discriminated against have to undergo counseling, mandatory arbitration and a 30-day "cooling off" period before going to court. They won’t have to do any of that anymore.