House bill aims to identify lawmakers in sex harassment casesWASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday introduced legislation requiring the disclosure of sexual harassment case settlements involving members of Congress and their staffers. The move came amid a snowballing number of revelations about harassment of co-workers and others by members of Congress, as well as high-profile entertainment and media figures’ being accused of workplace improprieties. If the legislation were to become law and such settlements came to light they potentially would have a ripple effect on politicians and elections. Republicans control the House, but it was not clear whether Speaker Paul Ryan would throw his weight behind the legislation. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A House committee hearing on overhauling existing procedures dealing with harassment cases is set for Dec. 7. Ryan called reports that Democratic Representative John Conyers was involved in a settlement over allegations of sexual impropriety “extremely troubling.” An aide to House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi noted that she has indicated she would support legislation such as the bill offered on Wednesday, although it would have to respect the wishes of victims who want to remain anonymous. Under current practice, the names of lawmakers and aides who settle sexual harassment cases at taxpayer expense have not been divulged. The bipartisan “Congressional Accountability and Hush Fund Act” was introduced with at least 21 co-sponsors. It would require disclosure within 30 days of all settlement payments, the reason for the payment and nature of the allegation, as well as the lawmakers and staffers implicated. The public disclosure of lawmakers would be retroactive under the bill and any payments as a result of settlements would be the responsibility of members of Congress and staff involved, instead of taxpayers. Over the years, more than $15 million in taxpayer dollars have been paid out in an array of settlement claims, including those involving sexual harassment, noted Representative Ron DeSantis, a Republican and one of the bill’s authors. Separate legislation has been introduced on tightening procedures for Congress handling sexual harassment cases. On Wednesday the full House approved a resolution requiring lawmakers and their aides to take courses aimed at preventing harassment. politicsNews
house bill aims identify lawmakers sex harassment caseswashington reuters a bipartisan group lawmakers house representatives wednesday introduced legislation requiring disclosure sexual harassment case settlements involving members congress staffers the move came amid snowballing number revelations harassment others members congress well entertainment media figures accused workplace improprieties if legislation become law settlements came light potentially would ripple effect politicians elections republicans control house clear whether speaker paul ryan would throw weight behind legislation his office immediately respond request comment a house committee hearing overhanging existing procedures dealing harassment cases set ryan called reports democratic representative john confers involved settlement allegations sexual impropriety extremely an aide house democratic leader nancy pesos noted indicated would support legislation bill offered wednesday although would respect wishes victims want remain anonymous under current practice names lawmakers aides settle sexual harassment cases taxpayer expense diverged the bipartisan congressional accountability hush fund act introduced least it would require disclosure within days settlement payments reason payment nature allegation well lawmakers staffers implicated the public disclosure lawmakers would retroactive bill payments result settlements would responsibility members congress staff involved instead taxpayers over years million taxpayer dollars paid array settlement claims including involving sexual harassment noted representative ron desantis republican one bill authors separate legislation introduced tightening procedures congress handling sexual harassment cases on wednesday full house approved resolution requiring lawmakers aides take courses aimed preventing harassment politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: House bill aims to identify lawmakers in sex harassment casesWASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday introduced legislation requiring the disclosure of sexual harassment case settlements involving members of Congress and their staffers. The move came amid a snowballing number of revelations about harassment of co-workers and others by members of Congress, as well as high-profile entertainment and media figures’ being accused of workplace improprieties. If the legislation were to become law and such settlements came to light they potentially would have a ripple effect on politicians and elections. Republicans control the House, but it was not clear whether Speaker Paul Ryan would throw his weight behind the legislation. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A House committee hearing on overhauling existing procedures dealing with harassment cases is set for Dec. 7. Ryan called reports that Democratic Representative John Conyers was involved in a settlement over allegations of sexual impropriety “extremely troubling.” An aide to House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi noted that she has indicated she would support legislation such as the bill offered on Wednesday, although it would have to respect the wishes of victims who want to remain anonymous. Under current practice, the names of lawmakers and aides who settle sexual harassment cases at taxpayer expense have not been divulged. The bipartisan “Congressional Accountability and Hush Fund Act” was introduced with at least 21 co-sponsors. It would require disclosure within 30 days of all settlement payments, the reason for the payment and nature of the allegation, as well as the lawmakers and staffers implicated. The public disclosure of lawmakers would be retroactive under the bill and any payments as a result of settlements would be the responsibility of members of Congress and staff involved, instead of taxpayers. Over the years, more than $15 million in taxpayer dollars have been paid out in an array of settlement claims, including those involving sexual harassment, noted Representative Ron DeSantis, a Republican and one of the bill’s authors. Separate legislation has been introduced on tightening procedures for Congress handling sexual harassment cases. On Wednesday the full House approved a resolution requiring lawmakers and their aides to take courses aimed at preventing harassment. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: house bill aims identify lawmakers sex harassment caseswashington reuters a bipartisan group lawmakers house representatives wednesday introduced legislation requiring disclosure sexual harassment case settlements involving members congress staffers the move came amid snowballing number revelations harassment others members congress well entertainment media figures accused workplace improprieties if legislation become law settlements came light potentially would ripple effect politicians elections republicans control house clear whether speaker paul ryan would throw weight behind legislation his office immediately respond request comment a house committee hearing overhanging existing procedures dealing harassment cases set ryan called reports democratic representative john confers involved settlement allegations sexual impropriety extremely an aide house democratic leader nancy pesos noted indicated would support legislation bill offered wednesday although would respect wishes victims want remain anonymous under current practice names lawmakers aides settle sexual harassment cases taxpayer expense diverged the bipartisan congressional accountability hush fund act introduced least it would require disclosure within days settlement payments reason payment nature allegation well lawmakers staffers implicated the public disclosure lawmakers would retroactive bill payments result settlements would responsibility members congress staff involved instead taxpayers over years million taxpayer dollars paid array settlement claims including involving sexual harassment noted representative ron desantis republican one bill authors separate legislation introduced tightening procedures congress handling sexual harassment cases on wednesday full house approved resolution requiring lawmakers aides take courses aimed preventing harassment politicsnews