House Speaker Paul Ryan said Tuesday that the chamber would immediately begin mandatory training on sexual harassment and anti-discrimination efforts after two female members accused two sitting congressmen of impropriety and misconduct.
"Going forward, the House will adopt a policy of mandatory anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training for all members and staff," the Wisconsin Republican said in a statement.
"Our goal is not only to raise awareness, but also make abundantly clear that harassment in any form has no place in this institution.
"As we work with the Administration, Ethics, and Rules committees to implement mandatory training, we will continue our review to make sure the right policies and resources are in place to prevent and report harassment," he said.
Ryan's announcement comes after Virginia Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock and Rep. Jackie Speier, a California Democrat, described instances of sexual harassment on the Hill during a hearing of the Committee on House Administration.
"There are two members of congress, Republican and Democrat, right now, who serve, that have engaged in sexual harassment," Speier told the panel.
She disclosed her own experiences with sexual harassment as a young congressional staffer in a YouTube video last week.
Neither Speier nor Comstock named the legislators, though the Republican testified that it was "important that we name names."
Comstock also detailed the story of a young female aide who quit her job after a male member of Congress exposed himself when she was asked to deliver documents to his home.
The legislator remains on Capitol Hill, she testified.
"She left, she found another job," Comstock told the panel of the aide. "But that kind of situation — what are we doing here for women right now who are dealing with somebody like that?"
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