Senate

GOP senator wants Senate sexual harassment training to be mandatory

by Jordain Carney - 11/01/17 7:24 PM ET

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is pushing for the Senate’s sexual harassment training to be mandatory amid a spate of high-profile sexual assault scandals.

Grassley sent a letter this week to Sens. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) asking them to require Senate employees to take part in the Office of Compliance’s (OOC) training, which is currently voluntary.

“No one should feel uncomfortable or unsafe at work because of a colleague’s behavior, especially in the halls of the Senate. As a body of elected officials, we Senators have an obligation to set an example,” Grassley wrote in the letter.

He added that while it was his understanding that “many personal offices require their staff to participate in sexual harassment training,” some staffers might not be receiving it because it isn’t mandatory.

{mosads}As the top members of the Senate Rules Committee, Shelby and Klobuchar would decide any rules or policy change.

“I respectfully request that the Committee on Rules and Administration consider the immediate implementation of a policy requiring all new Senate employees … to undergo online or in-person sexual harassment training provided by the OOC, as well as all current employees who have not yet received it,” Grassley wrote.

He floated that they could circulate a letter announcing the new change.

The House Administration Committee is also reviewing that chamber’s sexual harassment training policies.

The reviews come amid a string of sexual assault allegations against high-profile actors and other individuals in Hollywood. Democratic senators raced to return previous campaign donations from Harvey Weinstein, a film producer and major donor, in response to allegations of rape and assault.

Tags Amy Klobuchar Chuck Grassley Richard Shelby