Still no sexual harassment training for Congressional House members

There were lots of extras stuck into the federal spending bill that passed Congress this month. But there was one item that didn't make it: half a million dollars for sexual harassment training.

KPCC discovered last year that House members — unlike most people in positions of power — are not required to take sexual harassment training.

One California lawmaker is still trying to change the rules.

The lack of harassment training for House members became an embarrassment when more than a dozen women complained about the conduct of Bob Filner, a former Congressman from San Diego.

Filner retired from Congress in 2012 and won his race that year for San Diego Mayor. Shortly after his election, accusations that he had repeatedly groped and grabbed women during his nearly two decades in Congress started multiplying. Filner resigned as mayor and pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and battery charges.

San Mateo Congresswoman Jackie Speier got $500,000 inserted in the House spending bill this month to pay for sexual harassment training. But the money disappeared from the compromise bill. Now, she's asking the House Rules Committee to act.

"It's slow as molasses back here to get something as simple and obvious as mandatory training," she says.

Each Congressional office operates independently. Some members include language in staff manuals that address sexual harassment. But it’s up to each lawmaker to set office policy.

The Senate requires sexual harassment training for staffers — one hour for most staffers; two hours for supervisors. For newly-elected Senators — like their House colleagues — the topic is covered as part of overall ethics training. 

Earlier this year, Speier sponsored a bill that requires House members and staff to receive mandatory sexual harassment training every other year. The bill died in the House.

Incoming freshman Democrat Norma Torres of Pomona says she got four hours of ethics training. Any of it on sexual harassment?

"We got an overview," she says, "it was mentioned."

The Rules Committee won't meet again until January.