National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025

Key Points

• This bill changes how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration handles sexual harassment and assault. It requires the agency to keep better records of these cases and report exactly what happened and how the person responsible was punished.
• It creates a new way for victims to report what happened without their name being shared. This restricted reporting lets people get medical help and support without automatically starting a police investigation unless they are ready or there is an immediate danger.
• The rules would now cover more people who work for the agency, like fishery observers and contractors on private boats. These workers are often in isolated spots at sea, so the bill makes sure they have the same protections as full-time government employees.
• If an incident happens on a boat, the people in charge must report it to the Coast Guard as quickly as possible. This ensures that law enforcement knows about the problem right away and can take action if needed.
• The bill also bans anyone convicted of certain sexual crimes from serving as an officer in the agency's commissioned corps. This is meant to make the workplace safer for everyone who works on research ships and in field offices.

Impact Analysis

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