Analyst Brief September 14, 2026

H.R. 2406 — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention Improvements Act of 2025, as amended

Current Status

Suspension Document

Executive Summary

H.R. 2406 strengthens sexual harassment and assault prevention and response protocols within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It expands reporting requirements to include equal employment cases, mandates detailed annual reports on case dispositions and transfer requests, and broadens the definition of covered personnel to include fisheries observers and council members. Crucially, it establishes clear protocols for restricted reporting, victim anonymity, and mandatory reporting to the Coast Guard for vessel-based incidents, closing existing jurisdictional and reporting loopholes in isolated maritime environments.

Bill Data

Primary Sponsor

Ms. Bonamici (D-OR)

Bill Number

H.R. 2406

Session

119th

Co-Sponsors

Ms. SalazarMr. Huffman
View on Congress.gov ↗

Arguments For

  • Provides necessary protections for vulnerable maritime workers, such as fisheries observers, who operate in isolated environments with historically high rates of harassment.
  • Closes reporting loopholes by mandating Coast Guard involvement for credentialed mariners, ensuring inter-agency accountability.
  • Offers strong political cover by demonstrating a zero-tolerance, bipartisan approach to sexual assault and harassment in federal agencies.

Likely Supporters

Victim advocacy organizationsMaritime labor unionsEnvironmental NGOs (reliant on at-sea observers)

Arguments Against

  • Increases administrative and reporting burdens on NOAA and contracted vessel operators.
  • The expansion of 'covered personnel' to include private contractors and council members may face pushback from industry groups concerned about liability and compliance costs.
  • Mandatory reporting timelines and strict data collection requirements could strain existing NOAA human resources and investigative capacities.

Likely Opponents

Commercial fishing industry associations (due to liability/compliance concerns)

📋 Key Provisions

  • Expands NOAA's sexual harassment policies to explicitly include equal employment cases and requires detailed annual reporting on case synopses, disciplinary actions, and transfer requests.
  • Broadens the definition of 'covered personnel' to protect fisheries observers, at-sea monitors, catch monitors, and Regional Fishery Management Council staff.
  • Establishes mandatory reporting requirements to the Coast Guard for incidents involving credentialed merchant mariners or crewmembers on NOAA-contracted vessels.
  • Creates a restricted reporting system that allows victims to confidentially disclose incidents and receive services without automatically triggering a formal investigation.
  • Prohibits individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses from serving in the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps.
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Claim Analysis Page 4, Line 1

Requires annual reports to include a summary of change of station or unit transfer requests.

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"A summary of the number of change of"

Claim Analysis Page 11, Line 18

Broadens 'covered personnel' to include commercial fisheries observers and at-sea monitors.

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"observers, at-sea monitors, and"

Claim Analysis Page 7, Line 24

Mandates vessel entities report unrestricted incidents to the Coast Guard.

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"UNRESTRICTED REPORTS.—The respon"

Claim Analysis Page 14, Line 19

Prohibits NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps service for individuals convicted of certain sexual offenses.

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"relating to prohibition on"