H.R. 9967 — Congress Leads by Example Act of 2026

This section expands the General Counsel’s inspection authorities under the Congressional Accountability Act to include subpoenas issued pursuant to section 8(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. It requires employing offices to comply with the recordkeeping requirements of section 8(c) of that Act. It prohibits retaliation against covered employees who request inspections or participate in proceedings under section 215. The amendments take effect upon adoption of implementing regulations, with interim applicability from the date of enactment.

This section applies whistleblower protections to covered employees and applicants for employment in the legislative branch, including employees of the Government Accountability Office and Library of Congress. It prohibits employing offices from taking personnel actions against such individuals for disclosing information they reasonably believe shows a violation of law, gross mismanagement, waste of funds, abuse of authority, or danger to public health or safety. Remedies match those available under chapter 12 of title 5 for prohibited personnel practices under 5 U.S.C. 2302(b)(8). This section also bars employing offices from discharging covered employees because their earnings have been garnished for a single indebtedness, with remedies matching those under 15 U.S.C. 1674(b). It prohibits denying employment, terminating employment, or discriminating against covered employees who are or have been debtors in bankruptcy, with remedies matching those under 11 U.S.C. 525(a) or (b). This section further extends the rights and protections for parental bereavement leave under 5 U.S.C. 6329d to covered employees.

This section requires employing offices to retain records necessary to administer anti-discrimination protections for covered employees under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, effective for records generated 60 days after enactment. It also extends record-keeping requirements under the Family and Medical Leave Act and Fair Labor Standards Act to employing offices, with interim applicability of executive agency regulations until the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights adopts implementing rules.

This section extends protections against discharge or adverse employment actions for jury service to employees of congressional employing offices, the Government Accountability Office, the Government Publishing Office, and the Library of Congress. It applies to individuals summoned for or serving on juries on or after the date of enactment.

This section expands the authorities of the Board of the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to include those of the Federal Labor Relations Authority under section 7123(d) of title 5, enabling the Board to petition for temporary relief in unfair labor practice cases. The change applies to petitions submitted on or after the date of enactment.

This section makes hearings of hearing officers and the Board public in proceedings under sections 210, 215, and 220 of the Congressional Accountability Act (relating to public services and accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and labor-management relations), while requiring deliberations under those sections to remain confidential. The change applies to hearings and deliberations occurring on or after the date of enactment.

This section requires the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to conduct mediation of claims under the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 if a covered employee requests it or if an employing office requests it and the employee agrees. It begins the mediation period on the first day after the covered employee files the request or agrees to an employing office request (from the second party's agreement). The changes apply to claims filed on or after the date of enactment.