Washington, DC – Representatives Lois Frankel (D-FL-22) and Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24) and Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the Tax Fairness for Survivors Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill to remove the tax penalty on settlements, awards, and judgments paid to survivors of sexual harassment and assault. 

“Survivors of sexual assault and harassment should not have to pay a tax penalty on the compensation they receive from their abusers, “ said Rep. Frankel. “The bipartisan Tax Fairness for Survivors Act treats survivors with the dignity they deserve.”

“Currently, loopholes in our tax system fail survivors of sexual harassment and assault, penalizing survivors,” said Rep. Tenney. “The Tax Fairness for Survivors Act provides a common-sense solution that would eliminate the tax penalty on survivors by creating parity and exempting settlements and judgments from sexual harassment or assault claims from any income taxes. Thank you to Representative Frankel for joining me in these efforts to support survivors.”

“Survivors of sexual assault and harassment should not be forced to pay taxes on the compensation they rightfully deserve,” said Sen. Gillibrand. “The Tax Fairness for Survivors Act is commonsense legislation that will eliminate unjust tax burdens, allowing survivors to focus on healing in the wake of immense trauma. I am proud to reintroduce this legislation, and I will continue fighting to ensure that survivors of sexual assault and harassment are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

“Survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment should not be forced to pay taxes on compensation they receive as a result of the crime,” said Sen. Blackburn. “The Tax Fairness for Survivors Act would ensure these courageous survivors do not have to bear the cost of unjust financial penalties.”

For the full text of the bill, click here.

###