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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 1521 (116th)

EMPOWER Act

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

5 March 2019

Last action

8 April 2019 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Sponsors

Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22], Rep. Katko, John [R-NY-24], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14], Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rescom. González-Colón, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large], Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Wild, Susan [D-PA-7], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Haaland, Debra A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40], Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47], Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10], Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18], Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Hill, Katie [D-CA-25], Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-47], Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY-4], Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5], Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]

Subjects

Taxation, Education

Source updated

21 July 2025

Taxation · Education

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace harassment through Education and Reporting Act or the EMPOWER Act This bill addresses policies and procedures related to claims of workplace harassment. Specifically, the bill makes it an unlawful practice (with exceptions regarding certain settlement or separation agreements) for an employer to (1) enter into a contract with an employee or applicant, as a condition of employment, promotion, compensation, benefits, or change in employment status or contractual relationship, if that contract contains a nondisparagement or nondisclosure clause that covers workplace harassment; and (2) enforce, or attempt to enforce, a nondisparagement clause or nondisclosure clause that covers workplace harassment. Under the bill, an employee or applicant retains any right they would otherwise have had to report a concern about workplace harassment to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and other specified agencies, regardless of whether they have signed a nondisparagement or nondisclosure clause. Employees or applicants also retain the right to pursue legal action regardless of signing such clauses. The bill sets forth (1) enforcement powers of the EEOC and other entities, and the jurisdiction of U.S. courts, regarding workplace harassment; and (2) the applicable procedures and remedies for employees' claims. The EEOC must (1) establish a confidential tip-line that supplements its process for submitting a charge of discrimination, and (2) provide for the development and dissemination of workplace training programs and information regarding workplace harassment. The bill modifies the tax treatment of expenses and payments related to workplace harassment and employment discrimination.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 5 March 2019

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Financial Services, House Administration, Oversight and Reform, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 5 March 2019

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 5 March 2019

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 8 April 2019

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 5 March 2019

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 5 March 2019

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 5 March 2019

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Sponsors

Showing 48 of 95 sponsors and actors.

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Sources

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