U.S.

US Gov Pays $17+ Million to Settle Discrimination Claims

Published

9 years ago

December 21, 2017

(Via RT)

Newly released documents show Congress has paid out more than $700,000 to settle discrimination complaints against House lawmakers over a decade. Some $268,000 was recompense for sexual harassment and sex discrimination claims.

The payouts are part of $17 million paid out over two decades to settle discrimination claims against members of Congress by the Office of Compliance, a taxpayer fund that handles often secret payouts to Congressional employees. The fund and the office are at the center of a probe by the House Administration Committee.

Documents released on Tuesday show the office has paid out more than $342,000 in settlements from 2008 to 2012, including nearly $175,000 for eight settlements related to sexual harassment and sex discrimination accusations against House members. The office had previously released data to the committee, showing more than $359,000 had been paid out from 2013 to 2017, which included $93,000 for two cases of sexual discrimination and one case of sexual harassment.

None of the names of House lawmakers involved in the settlements were revealed in the data, made public by the House Administration Committee chairman Gregg Harper (R- Mississippi). Harper is also leading a probe into the use of compliance funds.

“As I have stated from the beginning of this review, one case of sexual harassment is one case too many,” said Harper. “We must create a culture within our Capitol Hill community that instills in every employee and employer, new and old, that there is no place for sexual harassment in the halls of Congress.”

Harper had requested a breakdown of the $17 million paid out over the last 20 years in settlements for all cases involving claims of violation of the Congressional Accountability Act.

The Act, signed during the Clinton administration, applied 11 civil rights, safety, labor and public access federal laws to the legislative branch. The law also established the OCC to ensure compliance with the act and provide outreach and education program for legislative branch employees.

The data on settlements over allegations of discrimination by members of Congress coincides with an avalanche of public declarations of sexual harassment and abuse claims that have included several lawmakers.

Among them was Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota), accused by multiple women of sexual assault including groping and forced kissing, and who resigned after pressure from his colleagues and is the focus of an ethics investigation.

Two members of the House of Representatives, Trent Franks (R-Arizona) and John Conyers (D-Michigan) have also stepped down, citing allegations of improper sexual conduct.

A number of Democrats have called on President Donald Trump to resign as well, citing accusations of sexual assault and harassment by more than a dozen women. Trump has denied the allegations.

Iowa

“Despite What You All Think”: Nearly $150 Million in New Water Commitments Follow Reynolds’ Defense of Iowa’s Record

Published

2 days ago

July 18, 2026

Pepe Jones

Gov. Kim Reynolds defended Iowa’s water-quality efforts and the stewardship of farmers during a May 1 press conference. In the weeks that followed, the state and federal governments committed approximately $148.3 million in clearly identifiable new water funding and financing.

During a May 1, 2026, press conference announcing Iowa’s “Farm to Faucet” proposal, Gov. Kim Reynolds pushed back when reporters questioned the condition of Iowa’s water.

“Despite what you all think,” Reynolds told the group of reporters before defending Iowa’s investments and arguing that farmers care about protecting their land because they intend to pass it down to their children.

The governor’s defense came as Iowa continued confronting concerns involving nitrates, lead pipes, PFAS contamination, aging treatment facilities and rural water infrastructure. Reynolds announced what her administration promoted as a nearly $320 million water-quality package spanning 12 years. The proposal was signed into law on June 1 and took effect July 1.

How Much of the $320 Million Is Actually New?

The nearly $320 million headline does not represent $320 million in entirely new state spending.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture’s own announcement states that the legislation works partly by “re-directing existing dollars.” Approximately $76 million can be clearly identified as new or additional state funding:

$52 million over 12 years for conservation practices in the Greater Des Moines watershed.
$6 million over 12 years for additional water-quality monitoring, based on an additional $500,000 annually.
$8 million as a one-time investment in drinking-water and wastewater treatment grants.
$10 million to establish the Rural Iowa Infrastructure Bank, which will provide low-interest loans for smaller communities.

That equals approximately $76 million in clearly new state commitments—about 24% of the administration’s advertised $320 million package.

Another $25 million is designated for Central Iowa Water Works to expand nitrate-removal capacity. However, the state says that money will come from the existing balance of an underused program, meaning it is redirected funding rather than an entirely new appropriation. Other portions of the $320 million package similarly involve restructuring existing water-excise-tax revenue and moving money between programs.

More Than $72 Million in Federal Support Followed

Separate from Reynolds’ state package, federal agencies announced approximately $72.3 million in water-related funding and financing for Iowa after her May 1 comments.

The documented federal commitments include:

$46.116 million announced by the Environmental Protection Agency on May 20 for identifying and replacing lead service lines.
$9.457 million announced by the EPA on May 19 for PFAS testing, planning and treatment projects in small or disadvantaged Iowa communities.
$344,000 announced on June 26 for small and rural drinking-water systems.
$16.373 million announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for rural Iowa water infrastructure, including new wells, a treatment plant, a water tower and pipelines. Of that amount, approximately $15.5 million consists of loans and $874,000 consists of grants.

The federal money addresses several different problems, including lead exposure, PFAS, insufficient rural water supplies and aging infrastructure. It should not be presented as though every dollar directly addresses agricultural nitrate runoff.

The Combined Total

Since Reynolds’ May 1 remarks, the clearly identifiable commitments are:

New state funding: approximately $76 million
Federal funding and financing: approximately $72.3 million
Combined total: approximately $148.3 million

These numbers represent appropriations, allotments, grants, loan funds and financing commitments. They do not mean that all $148.3 million has already been spent or that the projects have been completed.

The state portion is also spread across as many as 12 years, while several federal awards will flow through state or local programs before construction begins.

Still, the scale and timing of the investments matter. Reynolds told reporters, “Despite what you all think,” while defending Iowa’s water record. Yet within weeks, her administration signed a major water package and federal agencies committed tens of millions more to Iowa’s lead pipes, PFAS contamination, nitrate-treatment capacity and struggling rural water systems.

Investment is welcome, but the funding itself demonstrates that Iowa faces real and costly water challenges. The final measure of success will not be the size of a press-release headline. It will be whether nitrate levels decline, unsafe pipes are removed, rural systems become reliable and Iowa residents can trust the water flowing from their faucets.