H.R. 5842: Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace Harassment through Education and Reporting Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-11-03 · Labor and Employment · Latest: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, House Administration, Oversight and Reform, and Financial Services, 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.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-11-03 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-21] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, House Administration, Oversight and Reform, and Financial Services, 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. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace Harassment through Education and Reporting Act

Plain summary

Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace Harassment through Education and Reporting Act or the EMPOWER Act This bill makes it an unlawful labor practice for an employer to enter into, or attempt to enforce, a contract with an employee or job applicant that contains a nondisparagement or nondisclosure clause that covers workplace or sexual harassment, including retaliation for participating in a workplace harassment proceeding. The bill exempts certain settlement or separation agreements from such prohibition. The bill also requires the Securities and Exchange Commission to promulgate a regulation that requires any issuer of securities to submit a report for the most recent five-year period with respect to workplace and sexual harassment. The commission must provide for the development and dissemination of training programs and information regarding workplace and sexual harassment. The bill denies a tax deduction for amounts related to judgments and expenses in connection with litigation related to workplace or sexual harassment. It also excludes from gross income, for income tax purposes, any amount received in connection with a claim or settlement related to workplace or sexual harassment, or other unlawful discrimination.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace Harassment through Education and Reporting Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-21] · 98 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), André Carson (D-IN), Sean Casten (D-IL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Bill Foster (D-IL), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Grace Meng (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Marc A. Veasey (D-TX) and 38 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-21] reported raising $2.6 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr5842.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr5842 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117