# Congress Leads by Example Act of 2024

This bill extends workplace protections that apply to most American workers to employees who work in Congress and related legislative branch offices. Right now, Congress has carved out exceptions for itself from many labor and employment laws that protect regular workers. This bill aims to close those gaps and make Congress follow the same rules as everyone else.

The bill covers several major areas. First, it strengthens safety and health protections for congressional staff by giving the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights more power to investigate violations and require Congress to keep proper safety records—similar to what the Occupational Safety and Health Administration does for private employers. Second, it adds whistleblower protections so congressional employees can report wrongdoing without fear of retaliation. It also protects employees from being fired because of wage garnishment (when creditors take money from paychecks) or because they've gone through bankruptcy. Additionally, the bill gives congressional staff access to parental bereavement leave, allowing them time off when they lose a child.

The bill also requires Congress to keep better records related to discrimination claims based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. It ensures that congressional employees can't be punished for serving on juries, and it makes hearings about workplace disputes more transparent by opening them to the public. Finally, the bill makes mediation mandatory if an employee requests it when filing a workplace complaint, giving workers another avenue to resolve disputes before they escalate to formal hearings.

Essentially, this legislation treats congressional employees like workers everywhere else, subjecting Congress to the same employment laws and workplace standards that apply to private companies and other government agencies.