As Congress faces a reckoning over sexual misconduct, House and Senate lawmakers are looking to overhaul the rules in both chambers.
Last week, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., presented to House Democrats revisions they could make to their internal caucus rules to clamp down on sexual harassment. She’s part of a bipartisan group with Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., that’s working to also amend the whole House’s rules.
And on the Senate side, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., has been consulting other offices in both chambers on possible reforms, according to a Schiff aide. Lawmakers have been eyeing changes like prohibiting lawmakers from dating staff members, updating reporting systems and retaliation protections, and increasing educational and training resources.
Lawmakers have pressed for action amid misconduct allegations against several House lawmakers, including Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., who was censured last week.