WASHINGTON _ U.S. taxpayers paid out more than $900,000 in the most recent fiscal year to settle claims on Capitol Hill, the highest amount in 10 years.
That's according to statistics released Thursday by the Office of Compliance, the independent congressional agency established under the 1995 Congressional Accountability Act.
The agency reported that eight cases were settled for nearly $935,000 in fiscal 2017, which ended on Sept. 30.
The OOC released 21 years worth of figures on Thursday "based on the volume of recent inquiries regarding payment of awards and settlements reached," said Susan Tsui Grundmann, OOC executive director, in a statement.
Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., on Wednesday made headlines when she said that the House had settled $15 million in cases in the last 10 to 15 years. Speier has shared her own sexual harassment story from her time as a Hill aide. She introduced a bill with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., to address sexual harassment in the Capitol, including a requirement for mandatory training.
Roll Call analyzed the OOC data and found that settlements from fiscal 2003 through fiscal 2017 total $12.9 million.
The OOC administers and enforces workplace and employment laws on the Hill, educates members and offices on their rights and obligations and investigates violations. Hill offices such as the Library of Congress, Architect of the Capitol and Capitol Police are also under the purview of the compliance agency.
A large portion of the cases "originate from employing offices in the legislative branch other than the House of Representatives or the Senate," Tsui Grundmann said in the statement.
Fiscal 2007 stood out with more than $4 million in settlements paid _ the highest of the last 21 years. That amount was likely due to complaints from Capitol employees who worked in underground utility tunnels against the Architect of the Capitol's office; the employees alleged harassment and intimidation after they publicly revealed the hazards associated with their jobs.
The only other year to come close to the fiscal 2007 total was fiscal 2002, when 10 cases were settled for just under $4 million. That figure was likely due to claims related to the anthrax attacks in 2001, when congressional offices received letters laced with deadly anthrax spores.
Legislative branch appropriations bills for fiscal 1997 through fiscal 2017 have appropriated funds for awards and settlements under the Congressional Accountability Act, the OOC said in a release.
The settlements can include racial and religious discrimination cases, discrimination against people with disabilities and sexual harassment.
