Legislation Empowering Sexual Assault, Harassment Survivors Becomes Law

Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Lois Frankel (D-FL-21) and Ken Buck (R-CO-04), joined by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10), House Judiciary Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline (D-RI-01) and Subcommittee Vice Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), and Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), and Burgess Owens (R-UT-04) released the following statement after President Joe Biden signed their bill, the Speak Out Act, into law.

This legislation makes unenforceable predispute nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) that prohibit survivors from disclosing sexual abuse on the job. 

“Forced NDAs punish the survivor and protect the perpetrator who is set free to abuse others again and again,” said the Members. “With the signing of the Speak Out Act, we will now hold abusers accountable and change the culture of the workplace. Employers who were used to hiding their dirty little secrets will be forced to stop toxic workplaces, sexual harassment, and assault before it happens. This should lead to safer and more productive workplaces and civic society for employers, employees, and consumers.

“This is a historic day for labor law and women’s rights in America, and we’re grateful to the bipartisan group of Congressional leaders and dedicated advocates that got this bill over the finish line, and to President Biden for signing it into law.”

The bill signing comes on the heels of the fifth anniversary of the “Me Too” Movement, which brought to light countless stories of sexual misconduct in the workplace.

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