Kilmer Leads Bipartisan Letter to Congressional Leadership Calling for Annual Ethics Training for Members
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) led a bipartisan letter to Congressional leadership calling for annual ethics training for members. In a letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Kilmer and other members pointed out that House staff and other political appointees take ethics training for their jobs.
“I’m leading this push because it’s critical that our public servants serve the public interest and adhere to high ethical standards,” said Kilmer. “That’s important if we are going to restore faith in government.”
“After all, we ask each member of our staff to do an annual review of ethics for their jobs,” the members wrote in the letter. “Senior staff have to undertake an even more rigorous refresher. Presidential appointees, many federal civilian employees, and some members of the military also are required to undergo annual ethics training. We should hold ourselves to the same standard.”
The members urged leadership to change the House rules for the 115th Congress and add a requirement for mandatory annual ethics training for returning members.
The full text of the letter follows.
The Honorable Paul Ryan
Speaker of the House
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Democratic Leader
H-204, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi,
As members of the House of Representatives, the people who elected us to serve expect us to hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards. Most members follow that principle and work hard to get things done for the constituents they represent. But given the potential pitfalls, we believe every member would benefit from a refresher on the rules and standards that govern our official duties. It is for that reason that we ask for your support to modify the rules of the House of Representatives and require mandatory annual ethics training for members.
After all, we ask each member of our staff to do an annual review of ethics for their jobs. Senior staff have to undertake an even more rigorous refresher. Presidential appointees, many federal civilian employees, and some members of the military also are required to undergo annual ethics training. We should hold ourselves to the same standard.
Although the House adopted its rules for the 115th earlier this year, we believe changing house rules to require mandatory annual ethics training for returning members would be a meaningful way to help us regain some of the trust in Congress as an institution that people have lost.
We ask you to work with the House Rules Committee to implement this suggestion and look forward to hearing back from you.
Thank you very much for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,