Press Releases

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed legislation (H. Res. 630), which he cosponsored, that mandates each Member, officer, and employee of the House of Representatives complete training in workplace rights and responsibilities each Congress:

“Prior to coming to Congress, I served as the president of a medical practice that employed over 100 people, including physicians, nurses, and other professionals. I know from my private sector experience that creating a dynamic and outstanding work environment is necessary to recruit and retain the best and brightest employees, and that harassment in the workplace of any kind is unacceptable and only serves to foster a toxic work environment. It’s a philosophy I brought with me to Congress and why language addressing this issue has been in my Congressional office policy handbook from the beginning. Due to recent issues regarding harassment in the workplace that have come to light, we have taken the additional step of mandating everyone – including myself – working for the Office of the Eighth Congressional District of Indiana to complete training on preventing and recognizing harassment in the workplace offered by the Office of Compliance.

“As the father of four children, including two daughters, I believe this is an additional step that can be taken to ensure that anyone working for a Member of Congress in the House of Representatives does so in a positive, professional environment, free of harassment. It is imperative that we not stop here - the system for harassment complaints in the House must be reformed in a way that does not deter and stifle victims of harassment from coming forward. Those who are found to have committed harassment in the workplace should not be protected from the consequences of their actions by the secrecy and payouts from the Office of Compliance. This has been secret and unknown not only to the public, but to Members of Congress as well. Mandating this training is an important step, but by no means can we stop here. Further reforms to Congressional workplace policies, in regards to the reporting and adjudication of harassment complaints, must be completed.”

Remarks by Speaker Paul Ryan HERE

Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. is a physician and Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee serving his fourth term representing Indiana's 8th Congressional district. The 8th District of Indiana includes all or parts of Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warrick counties.

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