The Congressional Accountability Act

For the full text of the CAA, click here: 2 U.S.C. §§ 1301 et seq.


The Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA), Pub. L. 104-1, passed on January 23, 1995, was the first bill signed into law by the 104th Congress. The CAA requires Congress to apply to itself many of the same employment laws that apply to the private sector and the executive branch of the federal government. The CAA established the Office of Compliance (OOC) to enforce the provisions of the CAA. The OOC opened its doors one year later, on January 23, 1996.

On December 21, 2018, Congress passed the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act (CAA Reform Act), Pub. L. 115-397. The CAA Reform Act changed the name of the office from the OOC to the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (OCWR), expanded certain protections to unpaid staff, mandated a biennial survey of the legislative branch workplace environment, and significantly reformed the process to resolve claims alleging violations of workplace rights under the CAA.

As a result of the CAA Reform Act:

Today, the CAA applies 14 laws that protect more than 30,000 employees of the legislative branch who work nationwide, and prohibits barriers to access for people with disabilities. The OCWR administers and ensures the integrity of the CAA through its programs of education, dispute resolution, safety and health, public accessibility, and labor-management relations.

Questions? Please contact the OCWR at (202) 724-9250.


Additional Resources

FAQs: What is the Reform Act?

OCWR Training Catalog

Know Your Rights in the Legislative Branch Brochure