---
kind: "section"
citation: "2 U.S.C. § 1317"
title: "2"
title_heading: "The Congress"
number: "1317"
heading: "Prohibition of intimidation or reprisal"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/2/1317"
units:
  - "Chapter 24 — Congressional Accountability"
  - "Subchapter II — Extension of Rights and Protections"
  - "Part A — Employment Discrimination, Family and Medical Leave, Fair Labor Standards, Employee Polygraph Protection, Worker Adjustment and Retraining, Employment and Reemployment of Veterans, and Intimidation"
---

# §1317. Prohibition of intimidation or reprisal

- (a) **In general—** It shall be unlawful for an [employing office](/usc/2/1301.md?p=a-9) to intimidate, take reprisal against, or otherwise discriminate against, any [covered employee](/usc/2/1301.md?p=a-3) because the [covered employee](/usc/2/1301.md?p=a-3) has opposed any practice made unlawful by this chapter, or because the [covered employee](/usc/2/1301.md?p=a-3) has initiated proceedings, made a charge, or testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in a hearing or other proceeding under this chapter.
- (b) **Remedy—** The remedy available for a violation of [subsection (a)](#a) shall be such legal or equitable remedy as may be appropriate to redress a violation of [subsection (a)](#a).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 104–1, title II, § 208, formerly § 207, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 13; renumbered § 208, Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XI, § 1122(d)(1)(B), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1608.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 104–1, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 3, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1301 of this title and Tables.