Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) joined President Biden as he signed into law H.R. 4445, the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021. The legislation empowers sexual assault and harassment survivors by restoring their access to justice and public accountability under the law. 

Chairman Nadler issued the following statement after the signing ceremony: 

"I was so grateful to see the bipartisan Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act signed into law by President Biden. Last November, in one of the most powerful Judiciary Committee hearings I have taken part in, we heard from four survivors of sexual harassment and sexual assault about their devastating experiences and the subsequent arbitration process they were forced to endure as a condition of their employment. After the hearing, I worked with Members on both sides of the aisle to get this legislation, which ends the unjust—and frankly repulsive— system of forced arbitration for survivors of sexual assault or sexual harassment, through the House of Representatives and to President Biden's desk. With this bill now signed into law, survivors can bring their stories out of the shadows and pursue the justice they deserve in our courts."

Background

On November 16th, the Committee held hearing entitled, "Silenced: How Forced Arbitration Keeps Victims of Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment in the Shadows." At the hearing, fours survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment explained that after enduring horrific trauma at the hands of their perpetrators, they were forced to endure further trauma when they found that their only recourse was a secretive arbitration process that was stacked against them. The Committee advanced H.R. 4445 to the House floor by a bipartisan vote of 27-14.

On February 7th, Chairman Nadler led the floor debate on H.R. 4445, the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act. The legislation passed by a bipartisan vote of 335-97.