CNN
—
The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed a resolution codifying business attire as the proper dress code on the floor of the chamber.
It comes after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer chose to hold off on enforcing the unwritten requirement, and Democrats Sen. Casual wear by John Fetterman It became a flash point in the Capitol.
A bipartisan bill by Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, and Sen. Mitt Romney, a Republican from Utah, would require members on the Senate floor to adhere to an unwritten dress code that includes a coat, tie and slacks. For men only. The Resolution The Senate floor did not specify what would be considered business attire for women.
“Even though we don’t have an official dress code, the events of the past week have made us all feel that formalizing one is the right path,” Schumer said. “I really appreciate Senator Fetterman working with me to come to an agreement that we can all agree on, and I appreciate the leadership of Sen. Manchin and Sen. Romney on this issue.”
Before the measure passed, Fetterman told CNN’s Manu Raju that he would wear a business suit while presiding over the Senate.
Following the vote, Fetterman’s office released a brief statement that included a viral meme photo of actor Kevin James.
In 2017, then-House Speaker Paul Ryan relaxed the dress code after dozens of congresswomen objected to the ban on bare arms. In 2019, the dress code for women was loosened in the Senate, with then-Senate Rules Committee Chair Amy Klobuchar pushing for a change that would allow women to wear sleeveless dresses.
This story has been updated with additional information.
