U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va, believes it is important for all lawmakers to dress appropriately in the U.S. Senate.
Capito was asked Thursday by the Daily Telegraph about the dress code controversy during her virtual media briefing. She said there needs to be a “certain amount of decorum” in the Senate.
“I was astounded that Chuck Schumer really lowered the standard like that because I think people respect the institution of the Senate and we have to pay respect with the ways we dress and how we present ourselves,” Capito said. “So I was pleased the Senate as a whole body agreed with that. That there has to be a certain amount of decorum, a certain amount of dress code, and so hopefully we’ve laid that issue to rest.”
The Senate approved a bipartisan resolution late Wednesday — introduced by U.S. Senate Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and U.S. Senator Mitt Romney, R-Utah — requiring that appropriate business attire be worn on the floor of the Senate. For men that includes a coat, tie, slacks or other long pants.
The dress code controversy erupted following a declaration by Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, that senators could wear what they want in the chamber.
Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman has been in the news in recent days for wearing shorts, hoodies and sweatshirts on the Senate floor — something that critics argued was inappropriate.
Capito said she hopes the issue has now been put to rest, and that all senators will dress appropriately while in the legislative chamber.
Manchin issued a statement Thursday saying it was important for all lawmakers to follow the basic rules of decorum.
“For 234 years, every senator that has had the honor of serving in this distinguished body has assumed there were some basic written rules of decorum, conduct and civility, one of which was a dress code,” Manchin said. “Just over a week ago, we all learned that there were not — in fact — any written rules about what senators could and could not wear on the floor of the Senate. So Senator Romney and I got together and we thought maybe it’s time that we finally codify something that was the precedented rule for 234 years. We drafted this simple two-page resolution that’ll put all of this to bed once and for all, by codifying the long-standing practice into a Senate Rule and making it very clear for the sergeant of arms to enforce.”
There were no immediate reports Thursday of any senators in the legislative chamber failing to abide by the new dress code rules.