Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced a coordinated effort Wednesday to crack down on sexual misconduct in Congress, launching what they describe as a bipartisan partnership aimed at overhauling workplace safety on Capitol Hill.
The initiative is being led by the chairs of the House Republican and Democratic women's caucuses, congresswomen Kat Cammack of Florida and Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico. The two are tasked with identifying specific reforms designed to make Congress safer for women and all survivors of misconduct.
"No woman, regardless of party, title, or position, should ever feel unsafe in her workplace," Cammack said in a statement.
The push comes as Capitol Hill grapples with a string of departures tied to sexual harassment and assault allegations. Former Democratic representative Eric Swalwell stepped down in April following multiple sexual assault allegations that derailed his campaign for California governor. Shortly after, Republican congressman Tony Gonzales of Texas resigned, acknowledging an extramarital affair with a staffer and facing mounting pressure from colleagues to step aside. At least two sitting lawmakers are currently under active ethics investigations, marking a reckoning not witnessed on Capitol Hill since the #MeToo movement sparked a wave of similar resignations across the chamber.
Johnson framed the effort as deeply personal, noting that his two daughters work on Capitol Hill. He said he hopes the bipartisan taskforce will "make Capitol Hill safer for women and all staff."
Jeffries stressed the importance of establishing clear protections, saying House leaders "support an ironclad policy so we can bring about a safe, professional atmosphere for all congressional staff members."
The proposed reforms will be developed in coordination with the House Administration Committee, which oversees internal chamber management, workplace policies, and staff protections. Fernández indicated that changes will focus on streamlining how misconduct is reported and expanding training resources available to employees.
"It is sickening that Congressmen sexually harassed and assaulted women staff instead of treating them with the respect they deserved," Fernández said. She emphasized that the taskforce aims to "make the process of reporting sexual misconduct faster and more accessible" while increasing education and training throughout the institution.
The bipartisan nature of the announcement underscores how broadly the misconduct crisis has touched the institution across party lines. Both Johnson and Jeffries highlighted the need for swift action to protect congressional staff who have long operated under workplace conditions with limited oversight and accountability mechanisms.
Author James Rodriguez: "The fact that it took multiple high-profile resignations to spark a bipartisan response says something damning about how Capitol Hill has historically handled these issues."
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