Lake Charles (La.) American Press
Cassidy, colleagues demand Schumer reverse ‘absurd’ Senate dress code rules
By American Press Staff
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Rick Scott (R-FL) and 44 Republican colleagues have urged Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to reverse his recent announcement loosening the Senate dress code to no longer require business attire for members on the Senate floor.
“The Senate is a place of honor and tradition, and the Senate floor is where we conduct the business of the American people,” wrote the senators. “The world watches us on that floor and we must protect the sanctity of that place at all costs.
“Allowing casual clothing on the Senate floor disrespects the institution we serve and the American families we represent,” continued the senators.
Cassidy and Scott were joined by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and U.S. Senators John Thune (R-SD), John Barrasso (R-WY), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Steve Daines (R-MT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), James Risch (R-ID), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Tim Scott (R-SC), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), JD Vance (R-OH), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Todd Young (R-IN).
“For more than 230 years, the United States Senate has served the American people with honor and dignity. As members of this esteemed body, we understand the seriousness our positions require,” the letter reads. “The Senate is a place of honor and tradition, and the Senate floor is where we conduct the business of the American people. It is where we debate the policies which impact every American family and, when necessary, it is where we must make the gravest decision imaginable – whether to send our fellow Americans into battle to defend the freedoms we all hold dear. The world watches us on that floor and we must protect the sanctity of that place at all costs.
“Allowing casual clothing on the Senate floor disrespects the institution we serve and the American families we represent. We the undersigned members of the United States Senate write to express our supreme disappointment and resolute disapproval of your recent decision to abandon the Senate’s longstanding dress code for members, and urge you to immediately reverse this misguided action.”