('Inngreaa at the Hatter! gtatea $01 211515 June 14, 2018 The Honorable Paul Ryan The Honorable Gregg Harper Speaker Chairman House of Representatives Committee on House Administration H-232, United States Capitol 1309 Longworth House Of?ce Building Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515 Dear Speaker Ryan and Chairman Harper: We write to express concerns about the exclusion of guidance related to sexual orientation and gender identity within the Workplace Rights and Responsibilities education program attended by Members of Congress and staff in accordance with House Resolution 630. Despite a stated objective of the training to decrease harassment and discrimination the program omits any discussion of discrimination in the workplace based on real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. We are especially concerned that the omission of content on this subject may be a deliberate decision rather than a simple oversight. Upon completing the training and inquiring about the issue, a Member was told that the program facilitators were directed to eXplicitly exclude guidance about discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity as part of the training. Discrimination and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is prevalent in work places across the country and Congress is not immune from these harmful behaviors. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has ruled that discrimination based sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited by law - a determination which has been supported by federal courts. It is critical to the well-being of congressional of?ces that Members and staff are made aware of their rights and responsibilities in this space, just as the training provides guidance pertaining to discrimination on the basis of race, religion, age, disability, and other quali?cations. While the stated goal of the training is laudable, comprehensive guidance on critical workplace safety issues requires a discussion of harassment and discrimination related to sexual orientation and gender identity. Any directive to exclude this content from the programming intentionally leaves congressional of?ces open to harmful workplace violations. Whether this decision was intentional or inadvertent, it is critical for the well-being of this institution and its employees that PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER the programming is amended to include a discussion of these issues. As Congressional of?ces shine a spotlight on the importance of workplaces free from harassment, I urge you to update the content of the training to fully incorporate guidance on these issues. Sincerely, g" 37.44% Mark Pocan R0 Khanna Member of Congress Member of Congress Joseph P. Kennedy, Hi Mem er of Congress Member of Congress Chifrlie Crist Pramila ayap?/ Member of Congress Member of Congress A VJML-LA M?un gun A. Donald'McEachin Frank Pallone, Jr. Member of Congress Member of Congress Ted w. Lieu Salud 0. Carbaj all Member of Congress Member of Congress 71/644. Lois Frankel Member of Congress Matt artwright Sean Patrick Ma one},r Member of Congress Member of Congress Eleanor Holmes Norton Dina Titus Member of Congress Member of Congress Mike Quigley I Theodore E. Deutch Member of Congress Member of Congress re?w. x14: 1/ chakowsky Peter Welch mber of Congress Member of Congress Barbara Lee 7 Adam Smith Member of Congress Member of Congress 62an WW Alan Lowenthal Mark DeSaulnier Member of Congress Member of Congress Niki Tsongas 0 Juan Vargas Member of Congress Member of Congress CM 35 4M onnle atson Coleman Donald Norcross Member of Congress Member of Congress @Weam ek Kilmer ?9 Member of Congress Member of Congress mm If}! Mark Taka?/o Anthony G. Brown 9/ Member of Congress Member of Congress 1/ Darren Soto Member of Congress mber of Congress Julia rownley\ er of Congress 2 Lo gren emb of Congr 973.243. Bill Foster Mem er of Congress Member of Congress And?i??' rso Member of Congress Brenda L. La ence Robert C. "Bobby" Zeott Member of Congress Member of Congress Tim Ry Scott H. Peters Membe of Congress Member of Congress [1 S. Beyer Jr. Earl Blumenauer Member of Congress Member of Congress ul 41 Gwen S. a? Member of Congress Wane Z. Ber [10 mber of Co ess BEECQ Iijah Cummings Member of Congress 4% Jerrold Nadler Member of Congress x4355?; Est, Kathy Cast Member of Congress (Elms Eli th Esty er of Congress Cc: Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi M. avid N. Cicilline Member of Congress Henry c:Hank? Jomgon, Jr. Member of Congress Chellie Pingree Member of Congress va Lucille Roybal-Ail Member of Con Michelle Lujan GriEEam Member of Congress Daniel W. Lipinski Member of Congress House Administration Committee Ranking Member Robert Brady