Yesterday . I want to thank the chairman for inviting me to be a part of the hearing yesterday. The House Ethics Committee deals with allegations and investigations involving Sexual Harassment by members or by staff. We know its important for the house to ensure members offices know there is no tolerance for Sexual Harassment. They wanted to hear a figure out if we need to make changes in our processes where the house rules of the code of conduct. Thats why i was there. To listen and participate in make sure they have sufficient improper coordination with the office of compliance that handles those allegations. We talk about the subject of cap is it only if a member is implicated . Its issues involving staff as well as members. Thats what i wanted to find out whether or not an accuser would come forward, they indicating to that accuser that pursuing an action of the Ethics Committee is an action . They do tell accusers that theyre going through the counseling process, who that process takes a very long time before they might go forward with the complaint. We wanted to make sure people didnt know they can initiate investigation and asked the House Ethics Committee to get involved. Yet the majority and i think the appropriate places the office of compliance that an employee of the house would go to make a complaint about the action. How many times in that five years has someone come forward to the Ethics Committee with a Sexual Harassment complaint . Its rare, but is more common to go to the office of compliance and work through the process set up by the house and in the accountability act. We think there may need to be witnesses. We need to improve the process. We need to look at how the process works and reform it. I agree with the representative the three much focused in many ways a on protecting the office of the employee in the employing office more so than the accused so theres definitely a lot of great recommendations. Says mandatory training for members and staff. I believe so, there is consensus on our area yesterday. And olc recommended that for years. We just havent taken it up. Hopefully will remedy that therell be training for members and staff we also need a universal policy in our employee handbook. Spent up to each individual office to work and pick out which parts hr policies they want to handbook. We should have universal policy. We need training and policies we need to reform the process and it needs to be a stated rule that no member of congress it would be prohibited that they have any type of sexual interaction with any staff, intern or anyone who works for the. Were talking with congresswoman, the chair of the House Ethics Committee. Shes with us for the next 25 minutes. Host s folks are calling and you mention jackie spear and the concern about allegations against members and what should be banned. Check you testified yesterday about two instances of members been implicated on Sexual Harassment issues. Is important to note that two out of three sexual assaults were unreported. Oftentimes Sexual Harassment leads to sexual assault. Since i shared my own story on has take me to congress ive had meetings and phone calls with staff members, women and men who have been suggest subjected to this inexcusable and illegal behavior. There are two members of congress, republican and democrat right now who serve who have been subject to review or who have engaged in Sexual Harassment. These harasser propositions set such as are you going to be a good girl to those who are exposing their genitals. To those having private parts grabbed on the house floor. All they ask in return this to be able to work in a hostile free Work Environment. There what this is a fixed the perpetrators held accountable. Host i want your reaction thats giving a lot of attenti attention. Guest when jackie mentioned there are two members and she went into some detail about the allegations, im not familiar as chair of the committee, i am not aware of which two member shes referring to. Because she went into some specificity of what she claims they have done. That is a very serious allegation. Certainly if employees or other people have been sick subjected to this harassment weather and an officer out, its important that people come forward and they share. She is right. So much of Sexual Harassment and misconduct goes unreported. Its important people are held accountable. Thats what the committee wants. Its also about conducting fair and impartial investigations. Not every allegation is accurate. Not every rumor that might be told about a member or staffers accurate. Thats why we have a nonpartisan, welltrained staff thats a serious investigations. Before we render our judgment and our Bipartisan Committee that does these investigations. Host when you render judgment, what penalties can you lovely . Guest penalties from a private wrecked reprimand to public reprimand to approval which is a more public statement. We issue reports with our analysis. We can ask for punishment by the house. The ultimate punishment would be expulsion which is what is being discussed at the senate. Theres a range of punishment that can be recommended. That has not happened on my time. We have an incredible staff. We rely on a lot of precedents. We take it very seriously. Host will take some callers. Caller i want to know about the interview she gave to chuck todd about the 15 million in taxpayer money. Is this true . Why is and coming out of their actual pockets . Why are we funding their provisions . Guest where check is talking about and i wasnt aware of a dollar figure is the house, and i agree, i think theres a problem that the budget of the house does pay for settlements when settlement is reached between an accuser and the perpetrator or the individual being accused. Sometimes settlements are reached on the lawyer were to end the matter rather than Going Forward and defending the matter. It is true, the house is paying to resolve these matters in life going for to trial with the matter. There is a question to be debated whether a perpetrator were to admit whether or not they should have to pay for that settlement rather than the treasury and the taxpayer. As you may or may not know settlements happen on a regular basis and right now under the rules the House Institution pays to resolve these through settlements. Thats not something we have shined a light on. Think will have discussions about that now that its become more apparent is becoming a bigger problem. I went to remind people it doesnt always involve members. It can evolve staff on staff situations. Training is so important. We have a lot of young staff this might be the first professional position and its important that we do a better job training thats why mandating training is critically important. Caller im shocked that representative is spinning this. 15 million from yesterday is outrageous. Then she said we are to have a discussion. Ive been retired for seven years. Even back in the 90s we had to take Sexual Harassment courses. Why are the republicans and democrats are far behind . You talk about so many young people but theres old people that are members that ought to know better. I dont see outrage on her part. She should say yes they should pay their own fines and why is there hundred and 80 days before the 30 day mandatory mediation. What gives there . Thank you. First of all, i am outraged and trying to explain the history what is happen. Is an institution are behind the time. We are not in line with what is happened in the private sector in many ways. There are Many Industries behind the times. And whats happening in many sectors whether hollywood or congress these happen in all sectors of society and it is completely wrong. We need to make sure we change our processes. I agree hundred and 80 days is too long. There needs to be a process and thats what we need to be debating and discussing. As well learn about whether or not a member and assess in the hearing, if its a staff on staff situation, is the member informed immediately . It doesnt always involve the member. I learned that yes the member is informed when an employee comes forward and complains about their supervisor someone else. Members must take this seriously they must ensure they have the proper protocols in place the type of Work Environment where an employee can come forward. Whether someone in their own office or someone from another office. We need to make sure it strictly prohibited. We will take this very seriously. Host about ten or 15 minutes left. Also we should mention your work on the Commerce Committee as well for taking your questions. One headliner one tweet. The house and senate are among the worst for harassment than on twitter saying if you get rid of all the groupers in congress there will be empty elevators in the capital. How widespread is this problem . What is happiness we know so many people have come forward we worked on the hill in the past. Want to let those employees know. Also this involves women and men. Predominantly women, i would say that those that have been impacted and violated. This is becoming a release to them that we are addressing it and should have addressed it in the past. Sometimes it takes a change in the culture. I think thats what we are seeing. I did not work on the hill in the past. This is my first time to work on capitol hill and thats why i applauded the women yesterday. All who had been staffers on the hill before. They are demonstrating to former hill staffers that they can have a voice in this country. All of those women were staffers that acknowledge this happened. I want to say this happens in many sectors in our society. It is wrong. In congress reflects society. We need to be leaders push beyond the private sector and protect those who work used punishing the harassers and setting a culture that this is strictly prohibited. Margaret from Chesapeake Beach maryland. Go ahead. My concern is the fact that i dont feel like the people if a person commits a crime they should be the one paying not the people. I agree. I think there will be that discussion. All of these allegations are bringing to light the fact that the house and i would assume the Senate Office of compliance have resolved the number of these issues through monetary settlements. Im not familiar with the range of the settlements. I agree, individuals who have been involved should be subject to pay that themselves. They need to have more skin in the game and realize there are consequences for their action, whether physical, verbal, insults or what is called quid pro quo which is say that those in power that a person should be subject to requesting sexual favors in order to get promoted, that is absolutely wrong and prohibited. People need to be punished for that. A morning. Highest to run a couple of nightclubs almost 20 years ago. There were differences between unwanted flirting from attractive men and wanted flirting between attractive men. What you think of the falsely accused of what you will do when people are being falsely accused on a tractability. Guest thank you. Thats i said that if the matter comes to the House Ethics Committee we investigated a nonpartisan way. We interview a lot of witnesses to try to figure out something cross the line. They can create a hostile Work Environment but that is where we have to determine and why we believe there should be better policies in place. There should not be flirtation in a Congressional Office whether between staff or members of staff. That should not happen. Were right, thats why brought up occasionally people are accused improperly and thats why we do investigations. Thats why office of compliance works with the accusers to ensure their allocation is accurate, that when other people get involved that we figure out if theres actual truth. It is awful to be accused improperly. We need to find a way to figure out the truth. That involves interviewing witnesses in talking with the accuser and the accused trying to reach a conclusion. Thats why we have five republicans and five democrats who look at the facts. Just a few minutes left. A republican from indiana. Steve is waiting on the phone in clayton, north carolina. Caller one thing i like to say is adults shouldnt really meet the Sexual Harassment things because they should develop these things as children as her growing up. Along those lines is it normal for them. Where do you stand on incoming like roy moore and those that are blackballing because sometimes people dont report stuff because when they reported the rest of their careers shot. With respect to the second question, that has come up. What we have learned and heard from staffers is rather than reporting it was actually wiser for them to leave the hill and have opportunities off the hill. They dont want us to the pot, muddy the waters, get involved thats difficult for anyone who has been part of Sexual Harassment in the workplace. Whether in congress or someplace else. Sometimes its a for your easier for them to leave. When that happens the accusers not held accountable. Thats it takes a village courage and i applaud the women and men who come forward and indicate they have been harassed. We need appropriate procedures in place to encourage people to come forward speaker ryan has made it clear that theres no place for Sexual Harassment capitol hill or sexual misconduct. Secondly, yesterday when asked i believe roy moore should step aside. Because im in a position of an protecting the integrity of the house. Thats why leader mcconnell and others have said they believe she should step aside. If he doesnt step aside what should republicans do . I writing candidate . I havent studied what their options are. But that might be the only option right now. I know that is being discussed. Obviously the Senatorial Committee withdrew their support and the rnc withdrew their support yesterday. There will not be a ground game for roy moore. Writing candidate is probably the best situation. Will talk with congressman john larson about tax reform in the latest details emerge in about the senate plan possibly ending the individual mandate as part of tax reform. Where do you stand on that . Great question. I wont comment on the senate bill. There in the middle of doing their work. They had a long markup last week. I hope our bill passes. I am not in favor of the individual mandate. Whether or not it does get through the senate process, well see. Vaccine has been waiting, go ahead. Good morning cspan and thank you for taking my call. My comment to the representative, the Sexual Harassment is just mindboggling to me. With all the problems you have in washington this is what youre working on . It doesnt make sense. Youre not going to change nature. Its mans nature to chase women and vice versa. Its working get something done. Caller maxine, if we have a Work Environment in congress that is not conducive to getting work done, thats a problem. Thats where you have Human Resource sees. We can have workplaces that discriminate. Whether its age discrimination, race or sex discrimination, we cannot have a Work Environment just like other people should not be subjected to that. It impedes the important work we are doing. This was a hearing in front of the House Administration committee the role is to ensure the work of the house is being done efficiently and on the best way. Hopefully we will resolve and reform the processes and reform them quickly. Something we can come to agreement on and move forward and get back to the other work of the house. Thats what this committee does. We need to make sure members abide by the codes of conduct. If they dont, then there need to be consequences. Host if you miss the hearing yesterday you can go back and watch it in its entirety he can do that whether it happened yesterday 30 years ago, check out the Video Archives one topic i know youre interested in is a reform solution for childhood arrivals program. How optimistic are you that will happen . I want to make sure we do get to a solution before march 6. As there opportunities a lot before us, the omnibus bill, whether or not we can get a solution to the issues involving the young people. And part of that solution will also include Border Security resolution. We know we need to enhance Border Security. Repairing and fixing some of the border wall. That all needs to be done at the same time. I wish there could be individual resolutions, thats not practical. These young people brought here by their parents, yes they came here illegally but they have grown up here. They been raised in our communities and school system. There now young adults for the most part contributing to companies. There can be many young people and companies who hire which range about 800,000 plus the country. We have thousands of the state of indiana. I visited with many young people graduating who are productive citizens. Thats what were saying if there productive citizens not committing crimes want to serve our military and want to work and have grown up in our country and community we need to resolution Going Forward. Guest the last call in lake dallas, texas. Caller i was in the u. S. Airborne for four years. Each of us had to take an oath and we swore to never engage in any subversion or dissemination of false information. I understand our commanderinchief today is probably exempt from that kind oath or if he ever took an oath. Because the fact that what is your question. You need to ask him for a ua. If you get a ua firm him im pretty sure youd find that hes on some server factor which is a really exotic truck. Host congresswoman, before you go to your thoughts on the attorney generals testimony. We asked viewers for their reaction, whats yours . I had a full day yesterday. I was not able to watch the attorney generals testimony. Im going to have to take a pass on that. Im a former United States attorney and have incredible respect for the office of the attorney general. Its incredibly important responsibility. I appreciate that he can be for the house to testify. Thanks for coming on. Come back again. Washington journal, live everyday with new some policy issues that impact too. On thursday morning were getting reaction to the republican tax reform bill as the house takes up the issue. Watch washington journal, live 7 00 a. M. Eastern saturday morning. The Senate Finance committee will continue to debate of the tax reform plan. Live coverage at 10 00 a. M. Eastern as he spent three or on the free cspan radio app. This weekend on American History tv. Saturday at noon eastern, send 70 anniversary. Family members read from congressional hearing transcri transcript. I just finished a pitcher called the tall target. Ive been in theater for about 25 years. I think im well enough known from all of the from the roles i have played. Three a member of the communist party 1932 . It could increment eight me. , this is an emotional word of the day. A discussion of the civil war monument, it was about victory victory in many ways celebrated the victory over reconstruction. Unreal america, the world war ii propaganda film. The president of the United States also the Prime Minister of great britain. Headache, on the presidency alexander talks about her book, 26 seconds,. Gradually starting in the late 60s, versions of the film began to leak out. People began to see it. When they saw, because of the way the film looks it did not look like what the commission concluded. 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