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February 10,2016

The Honorable Sally JewellSecretary, Department of the Interior1849 C Street, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20240

Dear Secretary .Iewell :

As Members of Congress who represent a state with some of our nation's most treasured publiclands, we write not only to express our outrage at the alarming reports of harassment of femaleGrand Canyon National Park Service employees but also to urge the Department of Interior(DOI) to take appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination, against any NPSemployee found to have engaged in sexual harassment or violence. DOI must act swiftly toaddress the culture that allowed these incidents to occur.

As you know'. a 2014 letter of complaint from 13 current and former Grand Canyon employees,citing rampant harassment and abuse, resulted in an investigation by the DOI's Offrce of theInspector General. The Inspector General's report, published last month, found "evidence of aIong-term pattern of sexual harassment and [a] hostile work envirorment," including female NPSemployees being pressured for sex by a supervisor and facing retaliation for refusing or reportingtheir assaults.

The report also highlights NPS's inconsistent and ineffective responses to the issue, indicatingthe issue

- as is true in far too many cases of sexual harassment

-

may be underreported. In onecase cited by the report, an employee found to have taken a photograph under a femalecolleague's dress u,as suspended for only 30 days.

In addition to the report, two separate management advisories tiom OIG to the NPS director thatwere made public revealed additional concerns discovered during the course of the investigation.These concerns included the exposure of sensitive, confidential information about complainantsand failure to perform due diligence in the rehiring of an NPS employee previously disciplinedfor sexual misconduct.

It is our understanding that since the initial complaint in 2014. NPS has taken steps to address theissue, including barring alcohol consumption during trips and requiring pre-trip briefings. Whilewe welcome the agency's willingness to act, these reforms are insufficient and do notdemonstrate an appreciation for the severity and scale of the harassment fbmale employees flace,as highlighted in the report.

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demonstrate an appreciation forthe severity and scale of the harassment female employees face,as highlighted in the report.

Employees on our public lands -

like all workers -

deserve a safe work environment. DOI mustact swiftly and decisively to ensure that the NPS employees who protect our rich natural heritageare themselves protected from harassment and abuse.

Sincerely,

Ruben GallegoMember of Congress

Ann KirkMember of

David SchweikertMember of Congress

Member of Congress

Martha McSallyMember of Congrq

Member of Congress

Member of Congress Member of Congress

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