The measure bars employment contracts from forcing people to settle sexual assault or harassment cases through arbitration rather than in court.
— The Senate on Thursday gave final approval to legislation guaranteeing that people who experience sexual harassment at work can seek recourse in the courts, a milestone for the #MeToo movement that prompted a national reckoning on the way sexual misconduct claims are handled.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York who has spearheaded the effort, called it"one of the most significant workplace reforms in American history." Gillibrand, who has focused on combating sexual harassment and sexual misconduct in the military, originally introduced the legislation in 2017 with Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican of South Carolina.
Carlson, who appeared with Gillibrand and other senators at a news conference after Senate passage of the bill, said she could never have imagined, after coming forward with her allegations five years ago, that it would lead to a change in the law that both Democrats and Republicans would get behind.
"If you could ever say any legislation was long overdue, this is it," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. He called it"almost medieval" to force victims of harassment and assault"to shut up, not tell anyone about it and not seek justice." Defenders of the arbitration process, including business groups, have contended it is a faster and less costly way to resolve disputes than through lengthy courtroom proceedings.
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