Reps. David Cicilline (D-RI) and Scott Rigell (R-VA) introduced legislation on July 14 to require all members of the House of Representatives to participate in annual ethics training.

The legislation would essentially extend the requirement – which already applies to all senators, Senate staff, and House staff – to all members of Congress.

The Ensuring Trust and Honorability in Congressional Standards (ETHICS) Act (H.R. 5095) would require ethics training within 60 days of taking office and then annually thereafter. In an era when confidence in Congress is at historic lows, the legislation has common-sense appeal.

“Members of Congress should not be exempt from ethics training and enacting this requirement will help restore the public’s confidence in Congress. At a minimum we should receive the same ethics training as senior staff,” said Cicilline in a press release.

“During my time as a young Marine at Parris Island, I knew there was nothing those drill instructors asked me to do that they did not first do themselves. That is leadership by example and it is desperately needed here in Washington,” said Rigell.

The Center for Effective Government supports this legislation.