Members of the Arizona Congressional Delegation Call on Secretary of the Interior to Address Sexual Harassment Incidents Within the Grand Canyon National Park Service
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Ruben Gallego led members of the Arizona Congressional delegation in sending a letter to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell on Wednesday, asking her to take appropriate disciplinary action against National Park Service employees who are found to have engaged in sexual harassment or violence.
Read the letter here.
A 2014 letter of complaint from 13 current and former Grand Canyon National Park Service employees cited rampant sexual harassment and abuse. A subsequent Inspector General’s report found “evidence of a long-term pattern of sexual harassment and [a] hostile work environment,” including incidents involving employees being pressured for sex by a supervisor and facing retaliation for refusing or reporting their assaults.
Signers include Rep. Ruben Gallego, Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, Rep. Martha McSally, Rep. Raúl Grijalva, Rep. Paul Gosar, Rep. Matt Salmon, Rep. David Schweikert, Rep. Trent Franks, and Rep. Kyrsten Sinema.
Rep. Ruben Gallego released the following statement:
“All employees deserve a safe work environment free from sexual harassment or assault. The Department of the Interior has a responsibility to protect its employees from abuse and to make sure that if these incidents are reported, the victims do not suffer retaliation.
“Unfortunately, the National Park Service has so far failed to appropriately respond to this issue.
“I have full confidence that Secretary Jewell will act swiftly to put into place measures to protect these public servants and ensure that the proper disciplinary action is taken against any employees that commit in sexual harassment or violence.”