Sykes, Cammack Lead Bipartisan Task Force to Overhaul Capitol Hill Harassment Reporting 10 Years Later
Updated
Updated · CNN · May 15
Sykes, Cammack Lead Bipartisan Task Force to Overhaul Capitol Hill Harassment Reporting 10 Years Later
3 articles · Updated · CNN · May 15
House leaders this week tapped Reps. Emilia Sykes and Kat Cammack to quickly draft reforms to Capitol Hill’s sexual-harassment reporting system, aiming to move them through the House Administration Committee as a resolution.
The pair said the current process is fragmented across multiple offices, poorly publicized and slowed by ethics cases that can drag on for months or years, while staffers fear retaliation and receive inadequate training.
Options under review include requiring disclosure of past harassment settlements or cases involving members, tightening rules around relationships with staff from other offices and adding stronger repercussions for misconduct.
The push comes less than 10 years after Congress last revamped the system and as lawmakers reel from recent sexual-misconduct fallout, including the resignations of Tony Gonzales and Eric Swalwell under threat of expulsion.
Sykes and Cammack framed the effort as a bipartisan attempt to curb power abuse before complaints escalate, arguing members themselves must help police Capitol Hill’s culture.
Can Congress fix its toxic culture when lawmakers are still policing themselves?
Will new reforms finally stop taxpayer money from funding secret misconduct settlements?
Congress at a Crossroads: The 2026 Bipartisan Task Force’s Push for Accountability After Scandal and Reform Failures
Overview
In May 2026, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced a new bipartisan task force to address workplace conduct and accountability in Congress. This initiative, led by Representatives Emilia Sykes and Kat Cammack, reflects a unified effort from both parties to tackle systemic problems on Capitol Hill. Both leaders bring personal experience with harassment, making the mission especially meaningful. Their joint leadership highlights the bipartisan commitment to creating a safer and more transparent environment, aiming to overhaul reporting mechanisms and foster real cultural change within the legislative branch.