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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-2865| House 
| Updated: 7/5/2021
Suzanne Bonamici

Suzanne Bonamici

Democratic Representative

Oregon

Cosponsors (3)
Jared Huffman (Democratic)Don Young (Republican)Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican)

Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee, Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 202 1 This bill addresses sexual harassment and sexual assault involving personnel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The bill specifies that NOAA's sexual harassment prevention and response policy applies to personnel such as observers, at-sea monitors, and voting members and staff of regional fishery management councils. It also requires victim advocates at NOAA to be full-time employees whose sole job is advocacy for survivors rather than a volunteer collateral duty of an existing employee. Additionally, the bill expands reporting requirements on sexual harassment, sexual assault, and equal opportunity employment. The bill also provides for a restricted reporting structure that allows survivors of sexual assault to receive services without triggering an investigative process. The Office of Marine and Aviation Operations within NOAA must develop and implement a policy to report to the Coast Guard Suspension and Revocation National Center of Expertise the names of NOAA personnel who are under investigation for an offense detrimental to good discipline and safety at sea, such as sexual harassment or sexual assault or any other offense for which suspension or revocation of a merchant mariner credential is either mandatory or sought. Further, the bill removes the requirements that acts of assault, resistance, opposition, intimidation, sexual harassment, bribery, or interference with a fishery observer be forcible in nature and occur on a vessel to be unlawful.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-6636
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2020
Apr 28, 2021
Introduced in House
Apr 28, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Jul 5, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-6636
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2020


  • April 28, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • April 28, 2021
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • July 5, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Bills

  • HR 117-4690: Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2022
Assault and harassment offensesAtmospheric science and weatherCongressional oversightCrime preventionCrime victimsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationDepartment of CommerceEmployment discrimination and employee rightsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment studies and investigationsMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMarine and inland water transportationRight of privacySex offensesTransportation safety and securityWorker safety and health

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-2865| House 
| Updated: 7/5/2021
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 202 1 This bill addresses sexual harassment and sexual assault involving personnel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The bill specifies that NOAA's sexual harassment prevention and response policy applies to personnel such as observers, at-sea monitors, and voting members and staff of regional fishery management councils. It also requires victim advocates at NOAA to be full-time employees whose sole job is advocacy for survivors rather than a volunteer collateral duty of an existing employee. Additionally, the bill expands reporting requirements on sexual harassment, sexual assault, and equal opportunity employment. The bill also provides for a restricted reporting structure that allows survivors of sexual assault to receive services without triggering an investigative process. The Office of Marine and Aviation Operations within NOAA must develop and implement a policy to report to the Coast Guard Suspension and Revocation National Center of Expertise the names of NOAA personnel who are under investigation for an offense detrimental to good discipline and safety at sea, such as sexual harassment or sexual assault or any other offense for which suspension or revocation of a merchant mariner credential is either mandatory or sought. Further, the bill removes the requirements that acts of assault, resistance, opposition, intimidation, sexual harassment, bribery, or interference with a fishery observer be forcible in nature and occur on a vessel to be unlawful.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-6636
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2020
Apr 28, 2021
Introduced in House
Apr 28, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Jul 5, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-6636
    National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2020


  • April 28, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • April 28, 2021
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.


  • July 5, 2021
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
Suzanne Bonamici

Suzanne Bonamici

Democratic Representative

Oregon

Cosponsors (3)
Jared Huffman (Democratic)Don Young (Republican)Jenniffer González-Colón (Republican)

Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee, Natural Resources Committee

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Bills

  • HR 117-4690: Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2022
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Assault and harassment offensesAtmospheric science and weatherCongressional oversightCrime preventionCrime victimsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationDepartment of CommerceEmployment discrimination and employee rightsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment studies and investigationsMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMarine and inland water transportationRight of privacySex offensesTransportation safety and securityWorker safety and health