Kifowit Backs Measures to Combat Sexual Harassment and Discrimination

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In response to the widespread incidents of women being sexual harassed and discriminated against in Springfield, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, is supporting a package of legislative measures to crackdown on sexual harassment, ensure offenders are brought to justice, and that steps are taken to continue combating workplace discrimination and harassment in both the public and private sector.

“I stand with the countless victims of sexual harassment who have been assaulted while simply trying to do their jobs,” Kifowit said. “No woman should ever be intimidated and mistreated in this manner and we have a duty to eliminate this sickening behavior from our Capitol and every workplace.”

Kifowit voted to pass Senate Bill 402, which will require every legislator, staffer and lobbyist to complete an annual sexual harassment training program. Lobbyist businesses will also be required to create and enforce their own internal sexual harassment policies, similar to what legislative staffs are already required to have in place. Additionally, Kifowit was the Chief Co-Sponsor on House Joint Resolution 83, which calls on individuals involved in Illinois politics to reject harassment and work to put an end to it.

Acting to empower the new legislative inspector general who will be charged with investigating allegations of harassment and other violations, Kifowit stood with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to pass House Bill 137, allows complete investigations of all complaints pending with the inspector general’s office, despite a one-year statute of limitations.

Kifowit is also supporting efforts to create a task force to conduct a comprehensive review of the legal and social consequences of sexual discrimination and harassment in both the public and private sector and make recommendations to the General Assembly to combat this behavior.

“Sexual harassment and discrimination is not an issue we will solve with legislation alone, it will take a changing of the culture,” Kifowit said. “But I hope these measures will give women in Springfield and across Illinois the courage to continue coming forward and encourage others to stand up against violence against women.”