The "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025" aims to strengthen protections against sexual harassment and assault within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by improving reporting, investigation, and prevention measures, and by prohibiting individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses from serving in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.
Suzanne Bonamici
Representative
OR-1
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025 aims to strengthen protections against sexual harassment and assault within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The bill mandates comprehensive reporting, expands criminal referral requirements, and establishes a restricted reporting system to allow confidential disclosure of incidents. It also requires reporting of incidents on vessels to the Coast Guard and prohibits individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses from serving in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps. Additionally, the bill broadens the definition of "covered personnel" to include at-sea monitors, observers, and members of Regional Fishery Management Councils.
NOAA Overhauls Harassment Policy: Bill Mandates New Reporting, Victim Protections, and Annual Reviews
This bill, the "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025," updates how NOAA handles sexual harassment and assault. It amends a 2017 law to strengthen prevention, reporting, and response mechanisms, aiming to create a safer environment for everyone working with or for the agency.
Shining a Light: More Reporting, More Transparency
The biggest change? More sunlight. NOAA will now have to produce detailed annual reports (Sec. 4) covering not just sexual harassment and assault cases, but also broader "equal employment" issues (Sec. 3). These reports must break down the numbers, including summaries of cases, disciplinary actions taken, how many transfer requests were made (and denied), and specific data on incidents involving fisheries observers and similar personnel out in the field. The idea is to track problems more effectively and hold the agency accountable for addressing them.
New Rules on Deck: Reporting Incidents at Sea
If you work on a vessel connected to NOAA, there are new reporting rules (Sec. 5). The 'responsible entity' of a vessel (like the Director of NOAA's marine operations office for NOAA ships) must report incidents of sexual harassment or assault involving crew or contractors to the Coast Guard ASAP. This applies unless the victim chooses a restricted report (more on that below). The report needs specifics: names, vessel info, and what happened. This aims to ensure incidents don't get swept under the rug, especially in isolated environments like ships at sea. The bill also clarifies who counts as 'covered personnel' – extending protections to observers, monitors, and even fishery council staff (Sec. 6).
Supporting Victims: Confidentiality and Consequences
A key feature is the push for an updated "Restricted Reporting" system within three years (Sec. 5). This allows someone alleging harassment or assault to confidentially report the incident and get support services without automatically kicking off a formal investigation. Their personal info stays private, with specific, limited exceptions (like preventing serious threats or if required by law, Sec 5). This gives victims more control. On the flip side, the bill also strengthens investigation procedures (Sec. 5) and explicitly bars anyone convicted of certain sexual offenses from serving in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (Sec. 9), adding a layer of consequence.