The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed a resolution formalizing business attire as the appropriate dress code while on the Senate floor, following bipartisan criticism of Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s decision to relax dress requirements.
Schumer’s move had allowed Sen. John Fetterman to continue wearing hooded sweatshirts and gym shorts in the Senate chamber.
https://t.co/YhYZJfXsHM pic.twitter.com/sV9NiaAswJ
— Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) September 27, 2023
This bipartisan resolution, introduced by Sen. Joe Manchin and Sen. Mitt Romney, requires Senate members to adhere to a dress code when on the Senate floor. The rules specify that men must wear a coat, tie, and slacks, but they do not detail dress codes for women members.
In his remarks, Schumer stated that formalizing a dress code was the right path forward, even though the Senate had never previously had an official dress code.
“Though we’ve never had an official dress code, the events over the past week have made us all feel as though formalizing one is the right path forward,” Schumer said. “I deeply appreciate Senator Fetterman working with me to come to an agreement that we all find acceptable, and of course I appreciate Sen. Manchin and Sen. Romney’s leadership on this issue.”
He expressed appreciation for Sen. Fetterman’s collaboration in reaching an acceptable agreement and thanked Sen. Manchin and Sen. Romney for their leadership on this issue.
The decision to formalize the dress code came after significant backlash when Schumer relaxed the dress code on September 17, a move some have referred to as the “Fetterman Rule” due to Fetterman’s attire preferences, often seen wearing gym shorts and a hoodie around the Capitol building.
