HR 2406
Passed a chamber
Expands the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's sexual harassment and sexual assault rules to cover equal employment, requires vessel operators to report qualifying incidents to the Coast Guard, and sets rules for protecting victims' identities.
Official title: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025
Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions
House
Introduced
27-MAR-2025
Referred
27-MAR-2025
Approved by committee
15-JUL-2026
Reported
20-AUG-2026
On the calendar
20-AUG-2026
Passed
14-SEP-2026
Senate
Received
15-SEP-2026
- Adds equal employment cases to NOAA's annual report and requires data on harassment and assault cases involving fisheries, protected species, and endangered species observers.
- Requires the responsible entity of a NOAA vessel to report sexual harassment or sexual assault involving credentialed mariners or contracted crew to the Coast Guard as soon as it becomes aware, unless the report is restricted.
- Allows a victim's identifying information to be disclosed to NOAA staff, law enforcement, victim advocates, or courts in specified cases, and requires reasonable notice to the victim.
- Bars individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses from serving in NOAA's commissioned officer corps.
Covers an older version. The newest CRS summary describes the bill as of "Introduced in House" (27-MAR-2025); the text has changed since (Engrossed in House, 14-SEP-2026).
CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Read it on congress.gov- Natural Resources Committee (House)
- Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee
- Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee (Senate)
Public Lands and Natural Resources
■ 2 R■ 1 D
2 Republicans
1 Democrat