Reps. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) and Kat Cammack (R-FL) are set to launch a bipartisan task force to combat sexual misconduct following a slew of scandals and ethics complaints this Congress.
The talks of revamping workplace culture on Capitol Hill come after then-Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX) resigned last month over allegations of making sexual advances toward staffers. Swalwell has denied wrongdoing.
Leger Fernandez, the chairwoman of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, and Cammack, the chairwoman of the Republican Women’s Caucus, have reportedly pledged to work together on this issue after deeming the current anti-sexual harassment training inadequate. NOTUS reported the duo’s decision to team up on the matter.
The goal of the task force is to revamp how the lower chamber handles allegations of misconduct. Cammack told NOTUS the current training is “laughable,” while Leger Fernandez called it “insufficient.”
“It doesn’t explain not only what you’re not supposed to do, but why you’re not supposed to do that,” Leger Fernandez said. “We have to get to a place where everybody understands that the women who are on the Hill are there because they got elected, or there because they have applied and been hired because of their brilliance, because of their commitment.”
Other lawmakers have also discussed revamping the House Ethics Committee’s procedure for investigating allegations of wrongdoing.
Last month, Reps. Stephanie Bice (R-OK) and Josh Brecheen (R-OK) introduced legislation requiring any member of Congress who uses taxpayer money to settle misconduct lawsuits to be exposed publicly to the entire House.
CONGRESS WEIGHS ETHICS REFORMS AFTER SCANDALS AND RESIGNATIONS ROIL CAPITOL HILL
“This type of good governance legislation ensures that members who are found personally liable and use taxpayer dollars to settle a lawsuit cannot hide their actions,” Bice said. “The American people deserve to know whether their lawmakers have been accused of sexual assault, harassment, or other violations of the Congressional Accountability Act.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Cammack and Leger Fernandez’s offices for comment.