Speier and Gillibrand pledge Congressional support for bills focused to modify sexual assault cases. (Wikimedia Commons)

Sexual harassment has come to the forefront of dialogue across our nation, following allegations against Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein and the rise of the #MeToo Campaign.

While movements including #MeToo have raised public awareness of the prevalence of sexual misconduct in the country, few head-on actions have been taken to combat this issue.

California Representative Jackie Speier, who announced her account of harassment this week, is working to change the way sexual assault is dealt with in the United States Congress.

Congress has the Office of Compliance, but a closer look at the process for filing a complaint reveals the pitfalls of the current system. After reporting an assault, victims are subject to a mandatory 30 days of legal counseling, 30 days of mediation, followed by 30 days of cooling off before they can even file the claim in the Office of Compliance or a court case.

During this waiting period, victims are required to sign an ironclad non-disclosure agreement, preventing them from bringing up the alleged assault. The 90 days simply delay the process, preventing the complainant from taking any action.

Speier argues that the current process “is really set up to protect the institution, protect the perpetrator and not necessarily provide any benefits to the victim whatsoever.”

Speier introduced a similar piece of legislation in 2014, but the Rules Committee never acted upon. It never even reached the House floor. We cannot let another three years go by. It is more than time for Congress to act.