H.R. 9198 explained · 119th Congress · Pending in Congress
National Commission to Combat Workplace Sexual Harassment Act
Cosponsors: none · per Congress.gov, 2026-10-08
Introduced: 2026-06-08
Latest action (2026-06-08): Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
What H.R. 9198 does, in plain terms
The Congressional Research Service has not published a summary of H.R. 9198 yet. Its official title: “National Commission to Combat Workplace Sexual Harassment Act”.
Constitution Index
“VFA Constitution grade”
Not graded yet
H.R. 9198 has not been graded yet. New measures with an official summary are graded daily under the published rubric.
The Framers
“Founders’ Verdict”
Confidence 0.75
Archived SI output (machine-generated)No editorial review recorded. This historical SI verdict was machine-generated by software and predates the review desk; check it against the official bill text.
Synthesis
The bill is constitutional only if the commission's jurisdiction is strictly limited to matters substantially affecting interstate commerce, its powers are confined to advisory or investigative functions, and it does not encroach upon state sovereignty or the separation of powers.
The creation of a national commission to combat workplace sexual harassment falls within the enumerated powers of Congress under the Commerce Clause, as workplace conditions substantially affect interstate commerce. The Necessary and Proper Clause further authorizes Congress to establish such a commission as a means to execute its regulatory powers. This aligns with the principle that the national government must possess adequate means to achieve its legitimate ends, as argued in Federalist No. 23 and No. 33.
The creation of a national commission to combat workplace sexual harassment exceeds the limited and enumerated powers delegated to the federal government by the Constitution. The Tenth Amendment reserves to the States, or to the people, all powers not expressly granted to the United States. The regulation of workplace conduct and the establishment of a commission for such purposes are not among the powers enumerated in Article I, Section 8, nor are they necessary and proper to the execution of any such power. The Commerce Clause does not extend to the general police power over local employment…
The creation of a national commission to combat workplace sexual harassment must be examined under the principle of enumerated powers. Congress may establish such a commission only if it is necessary and proper to carry out a specific power delegated to the federal government, such as regulating interstate commerce under Article I, Section 8, Clause 3, or ensuring the general welfare through spending under Article I, Section 8, Clause 1. However, if the commission's authority extends to matters traditionally reserved to the states, such as local workplace conduct not substantially affecting in…
The Constitution vests in Congress the power to regulate commerce among the several states and to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution its enumerated powers. A national commission to address workplace sexual harassment falls within the ambit of regulating interstate commerce, as employment practices inherently affect the flow of commerce. However, the commission's authority must be confined to matters that substantially affect interstate commerce and must not exceed the boundaries of the Necessary and Proper Clause. If the commission's powers extend to …
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