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SALT LAKE CITY — The U.S. Senate on Wednesday codified what was previously an unwritten dress code by passing a resolution sponsored by Utah Sen. Mitt Romney and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia.
The resolution requires senators to dress in business attire while on the floor of the chamber. For men, that includes a coat, tie and slacks. Business attire for women is not specified in the resolution.
"The United States Capitol is more than just a place of work — it serves as a symbol of freedom and democracy to the world," Romney, a Republican, said on the Senate floor. "Hard work was done, and sacrifices made, to ensure that our legislative branch of government wasn't just housed in some tent. As senators, we should demonstrate a high level of reverence for the institution in which we serve — and our attire is one of the most basic expressions of that respect."
Freshman Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania, has been at the center of a controversy after he opted for his signature basketball shorts and a hoodie following Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's decision not to enforce the unwritten dress code.
Fetterman isn't the first senator to have voted while wearing basketball shorts: Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, did so in August 2022 after a basketball game with his aides.
Romney acknowledged that it's not the biggest problem before congressional leaders this week — they're less than 72 hours away from a government shutdown if the House and Senate can't agree on spending — but said it's a "good thing" senators of both parties came together to enforce decorum.
The resolution, dubbed the SHow Our Respect To the Senate (SHORTS) Resolution designates the Senate Sergeant at Arms as the fashion police, and requires a two-thirds vote to change the dress code again.
