WASHINGTON — A lawmaker who testified that two sitting members of Congress have engaged in sexual harassment said Wednesday she isn’t identifying them because the victims don’t want the lawmakers named publicly.

Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., said she is barred from identifying one member because of a non-disclosure agreement, and isn’t identifying the second lawmaker at the victim’s request.

During a news conference introducing a bill to overhaul the process of reporting harassment, Speier said she has not confronted the members and isn’t naming them because “the victims are the ones who do not want this exposed.”

Currently, victims are required to undergo counseling, mediation and a 30-day “cooling off period” before filing a formal complaint with the Office of Compliance.

The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., would eliminate non-disclosure agreements as a condition of initiating mediation and mandate that offices that have complaints be publicly listed. The bill would also protect interns and fellows, make mediation and counseling optional, rather than required before a victim can file a lawsuit or complaint, and require members of Congress who settle discrimination cases to pay back the Treasury.

The bill does not apply to staff members who settle lawsuits; Gloria Lett, counsel for the Office of House Employment Counsel, said most complaints are against staffers rather than lawmakers.

The bill comes one day after Speaker Paul Ryan announced that all members and their staffs will be required to undergo anti-sexual harassment training, which is also a provision of Speier and Gillibrand’s bill. Last week, the Senate adopted a similar resolution.


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