Bill Co-Sponsored by Senator Collins to Empower Sexual Assault and Harassment Survivors Signed into Law

Washington, D.C. –  The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act – a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) – was signed into law. The legislation, which passed both chambers of Congress with overwhelming support, will stop perpetrators from using predispute arbitration agreements to push survivors of sexual assault and harassment into private arbitration proceedings. 

“Survivors of sexual assault and harassment should not be forced to pursue their claims through private arbitration, rather than in court,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan legislation will prohibit arbitration clauses that prevent survivors of sexual violence from pursuing justice in the forum of their choice. I am pleased that President Biden has signed our bill into law.”

The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act invalidates forced arbitration clauses that prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment survivors from seeking justice and public accountability in court under the laws meant to protect them.

The bill was introduced by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). In addition to Senator Collins, the bill was co-sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Kennedy (R-LA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Rob Portman (R-OH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Jack Reed (D-RI).

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