Directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and publicly release records of the Committee's review of violations or alleged violations of clause 9 (as it pertains to acts of sexual harassment) and clause 18 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1072
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-23: Referred to the House Committee on Ethics.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-03T09:05:24Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H. Res. 1072
Purpose
This House Resolution aims to promote transparency and accountability in addressing sexual harassment and unwelcome sexual advances within the U.S. House of Representatives. It directs the Committee on Ethics to preserve and publicly release records related to investigations of violations of specific House rules prohibiting such conduct, emphasizing that these behaviors undermine the safety, dignity, and integrity of House proceedings.
Key Provisions
- Preservation of Records: The Committee on Ethics must keep all documents and investigative materials concerning violations or alleged violations of:
- Clause 9 of rule XXIII (specifically related to acts of sexual harassment).
- Clause 18 of rule XXIII (prohibiting unwelcome sexual advances).
These apply to actions by Members of Congress, Delegates, or Resident Commissioners.
- Public Release Requirement: Within 60 days of the resolution's adoption, the Committee must release all relevant reports, including conclusions, draft reports, recommendations, attachments, exhibits, and other materials. Personally identifiable information of victims or alleged victims must be redacted to protect their privacy.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This resolution does not amend statutes but introduces a new directive for the House Ethics Committee. Previously, such investigative records may have been handled internally without a mandatory public disclosure timeline. It enforces proactive preservation and timed public release of ethics investigation materials specifically tied to sexual harassment under House rules, enhancing oversight without altering the underlying prohibitions in rule XXIII.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Primarily affects the House Committee on Ethics by requiring additional administrative efforts for record-keeping and redaction, potentially increasing workload and resource needs.
- On Citizens: Boosts public access to information about congressional misconduct, fostering greater trust and awareness of ethical standards in government, though it does not directly impact everyday citizens' rights or services.
- On International Relations: No direct effects, as this is an internal House matter focused on domestic legislative conduct.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- House Members, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners: Subject to investigations; public releases could lead to reputational or professional consequences.
- Committee on Ethics: Responsible for implementing the preservation and disclosure requirements.
- Victims and Alleged Victims: Protected through mandatory redaction of personal information, balancing transparency with privacy.
- The Public and Media: Gain access to redacted records, enabling broader scrutiny of congressional ethics.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces enforcement of House rules on workplace conduct (similar to anti-harassment laws in other workplaces) by mandating documentation and disclosure, potentially setting a precedent for handling ethics probes without conflicting with broader federal laws on privacy or defamation.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's constitutional authority to govern its internal rules and proceedings (Article I, Section 5), promoting self-regulation while emphasizing ethical integrity in a public institution.
- Political: Could heighten accountability for members accused of misconduct, influencing public perception of Congress and possibly deterring violations through increased transparency; however, it may also spark debates over privacy versus openness in legislative ethics.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-23: Referred to the House Committee on Ethics.
- 2026-02-23: Submitted in House
- 2026-02-23: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and publicly release records of the Committee’s review of violations or alleged violations of clause 9 (as it pertains to acts of sexual harassment) and clause 18 of rule XXIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives. — issued 2026-02-23 — PDF (2 pages)