Owens Helps Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Empower Employees, Consumers to Speak Out Against Sexual Harassment

Jun 29, 2022
Congress
Press

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04) helped introduce the Speak Out Act, bipartisan legislation to prohibit predispute nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) in instances in which sexual harassment or sexual assault has been alleged in violation of Federal, Tribal, or State law. Current law allows the use of NDAs to force employees and consumers to sign away their rights to come forward about a future allegation of sexual harassment or assault. This results in silencing survivors and perpetuates illegal conduct.

“For far too long, nondisclosure agreements have silenced the voices of victims while protecting abusers and shielding egregious misconduct in the workplace,” said Rep. Owens. “I am proud to join my colleagues to help introduce The Speak Out Act to ensure that all survivors of workplace harassment and discrimination can have their voices heard.”

“The introduction of bipartisan legislation to eradicate nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) is a significant moment for millions of Americans who have been forced to suffer in silence even as they have experienced or witnessed sexual harassment and assault in the workplace. These survivors and witnesses are currently prevented from disclosing the truth to their colleagues, their friends, and even their family members. This culture of silence protects predators, and drives countless women and men from their jobs and careers. Following the passage of historic federal legislation that we championed ending the use of forced arbitration clauses that also silenced survivors from speaking out about their experiences, we are grateful to the courageous members of Congress on both sides of the aisle who are joining the fight to make workplaces safer for us all,” said Lift Our Voices co-founders Gretchen Carlson and Julie Roginsky.

The Speak Out Act would:

  • Prohibit the use of predispute NDAs between employers and current, former, and prospective employees, as well as independent contractors;
  • Prohibit the use of predispute NDAs between providers of goods and services and consumers, and;
  • Invalidate existing predispute NDAs in cases that have not yet been filed.

A companion bill will be introduced in the Senate by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

###

Recent Posts


Mar 22, 2024
Congress

Owens Champions First Amendment Rights on Campus

WASHINGTON – The Education and the Workforce Committee passed the Respecting the First Amendment on Campus Act, legislation supported by Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Chair Burgess Owens (UT-04), to ensure that college campuses and universities are fulfilling their First Amendment obligations. This bill makes free speech on campus a condition for receiving Title […]



Mar 21, 2024
Congress

Owens Applauds Passage of Clean Water Permitting Reforms

WASHINGTON – Congressman Burgess Owens (UT-04) released the following statement after the House passed the Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act, which included the Water Quality Criteria Development and Transparency Act, a key provision he championed to establish clearer procedures for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in developing water quality criteria commonly used […]



Mar 21, 2024
Economy & Jobs

Owens Leads Labor Union Transparency Bill

WASHINGTON – Congressman Burgess Owens (UT-04) introduced the Start Applying Labor Transparency (SALT) Act, legislation aimed at exposing “salting,” a common union organizing tactic where individuals are paid by labor unions to infiltrate companies with the aim of organizing a union. The SALT Act would require these union “salts” to disclose their affiliation to the […]