Kamlager-Dove Calls for Decorum, Equal Enforcement of House Rules in Letter to Speaker Johnson and House Parliamentarian Following Events at State of the Union

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-04) and House Parliamentarian Jason Smith demanding that House leadership enforce agreed-upon rules after a Member of Congress wore campaign paraphernalia on the House Floor during the State of the Union—a direct violation of House rules on decorum, dress code, and ethics. 

“It is unacceptable for the House Floor to be used for campaign and political propaganda, especially during a major event such as the State of the Union,” wrote Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “Many of my colleagues and I have been subject to reprimands before entering and while on the House Floor for slight violations of decorum or dress code. The incident during the State of the Union shows the Speaker’s hypocritical application of the rules as well as his unwillingness to enforce them when it comes to Members of his own party."

“The actions of this Member were disrespectful to the principles of our democracy and our institution. The U.S. House of Representatives must remain a setting for the creation, discussion, and passage of legislation, not a place for political pandering,” Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove concluded. 
 
To read the full letter, see below or click here.   
 
Full Letter:

I am writing to request enforcement of the decorum, dress code, and ethics rules Members of Congress are bound to abide by while in the House Office Buildings and the U.S. Capitol, including on the Floor of the House Chamber.

Last week during the State of the Union, a Member of Congress entered the House Floor wearing clear campaign paraphernalia – a political hat supporting a candidate for President of the United States. Displaying a campaign insignia in a House building is a direct violation of the rules of the House of Representatives, set in place at the beginning of the 118th Congress. Wearing a hat on the House Floor is also in violation of dress code and decorum rules. Given that the U.S. Capitol is official government property, it is unacceptable for the House Floor to be used for campaign and political propaganda, especially during a major event such as the State of the Union.

Many of my colleagues and I have been subject to reprimands before entering and while on the House Floor for slight violations of decorum or dress code. The incident during the State of the Union shows the Speaker’s hypocritical application of the rules as well as his unwillingness to enforce them when it comes to Members of his own party.

The actions of this Member were disrespectful to the principles of our democracy and our institution. The U.S. House of Representatives must remain a setting for the creation, discussion, and passage of legislation, not a place for political pandering.

I ask for the consistent enforcement of rules forbidding campaign paraphernalia on the House Floor and request the Speaker of the House to take action to fortify these rules for the sake of maintaining the dignity of our most democratic institution.

Sincerely, 

Sydney Kamlager-Dove 

Member of Congress 

# # #