In a significant move toward transparency, the House of Representatives passed a resolution on Tuesday that mandates the disclosure of members who have settled sexual misconduct allegations using taxpayer money. The resolution, spearheaded by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), was approved nearly unanimously with a vote of 420-0, showing a rare moment of bipartisan agreement. The only exception was Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who voted present.

The measure requires the House Ethics Committee and the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, bodies responsible for handling misconduct claims, to release detailed records within 60 days. This includes names of lawmakers involved and the amounts paid in settlements. Rep. Massie emphasized the need for this action on the House floor, stating, “We need to know what’s been going on here in the House of Representatives in order to convince the people and assure the people that we are conducting the people’s business with the utmost integrity.”

This legislative push comes in the wake of resignations by Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), who earlier this year stepped down amid serious sexual misconduct allegations. These incidents have intensified scrutiny on how the House handles such serious charges internally.

In response to growing public pressure, the House Ethics panel reaffirmed its dedication to investigating claims of sexual misconduct. However, it clarified in April that it does not handle lawsuits or settlements directly related to these allegations. The resolution by Massie aims to bridge this information gap and ensure accountability.

In March, revelations surfaced that the federal government had paid over $300,000 to settle claims against House members or their offices. This was brought to light after the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee subpoenaed the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights for related settlement documents.

Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.), chair of the Ethics Committee, indicated his support for the resolution, noting that the compelled information had already been shared, but reaffirmed the importance of making such information publicly accessible.

The proposal by Massie stands in contrast to an earlier measure by Rep. Mace, which sought to force the Ethics Committee to release information on its investigations into lawmakers accused of sexual misconduct. That measure was rejected, with leaders of the Ethics Committee arguing it could deter victims from coming forward.

In a critical response to Tuesday's vote, Rep. Mace described it as "political theater" in a video posted on social media, questioning the necessity of the vote given that materials about the settlements had already been shared with Congress following her championed subpoena.

This resolution marks a pivotal step towards greater legislative transparency and accountability, aiming to restore public trust in how Congress handles internal misconduct. The outcome of this disclosure could have far-reaching implications for how sexual misconduct allegations are perceived and managed in the nation's highest legislative body.