{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://bice.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-bice-and-brecheen-featured-washington-examiner", "ICYMI: Bice and Brecheen Featured in Washington Examiner", "2026-04-24", "2026", "2026-04", "Republican", "House", "OK", "Stephanie I. Bice", "B000740", "bice.house.gov", "bice", "https://bice.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Last week, Representative Stephanie Bice (OK-05) and Representative Josh Brecheen (OK-02) introduced legislation requiring transparency when taxpayer dollars are used for personal legal settlements from Members of Congress. The Washington Examiner covered the legislation. Read below:\n\nEXCLUSIVE \u2014 Two House Republicans are proposing the return of public shaming in response to the torrent of bad behavior by their colleagues, like ex-Reps. Eric Swallwell (D-CA) Tony Gonzales (R-TX).\n\nReps. Stephanie Bice (R-OK) and Josh Brecheen (R-OK) told the Washington Examiner they are introducing legislation requiring any member of Congress who uses taxpayer money to settle misconduct lawsuits to be publicly exposed to the entire House.\n\nSpecifically, the duo\u2019s bill would require lawmakers to stand in the center of the House, in front of their colleagues and the public tuning in at home on C-SPAN, while the chamber\u2019s clerk reads the settlement amount, the reason for the payment, and whether it has been reimbursed.\n\n\u201cThis type of good governance legislation ensures that members who are found personally liable and use taxpayer dollars to settle a lawsuit cannot hide their actions,\u201d Bice said. \u201cThe American people deserve to know whether their lawmakers have been accused of sexual assault, harassment, or other violations of the Congressional Accountability Act.\u201d\n\nUnder the bill, lawmakers who use taxpayer money to settle misconduct lawsuits would have 30 days to appear in the chamber for public shaming. If the lawmaker refuses, then they would lose access to all committee assignments and leadership positions.\n\nResigning, as Swalwell and Gonzales did to head off expulsion votes, would not save the members from further embarrassment. The Bice-Breechen bill says that if a former member refuses to comply, they will lose access to the House floor and other perks given to ex-lawmakers.\n\nSupporters say the measure is meant to shine a light on bad behavior that often goes unnoticed. Congressional law already requires the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to track and disclose on its website settlements made by congressional offices and agencies for misconduct.\n\nCritics say the current system, however, is opaque. They note that reports only list settlements and the category of workplace violation but do not specify who was responsible and the nature of the complaint.\n\n\u201cThe American People deserve accountability for Members of Congress who abuse their position to victimize others \u2014 especially when tax dollars are used in settlements,\u201d Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX) said.\n\n\u201cWhile well-intended, previous efforts required the public release of even \u2018alleged violations\u2019 \u2014 even false ones,\u201d Cloud said. \u201cThis runs contrary to the foundational legal principle of due process \u2014 a principle rooted in Scripture long before it was codified in law.\u201d\n\nRead the article here.\n\nContact: Wesley Harkins\n\nPhone: (202) 225-2132", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:19:40Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://bice.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-bice-and-brecheen-featured-washington-examiner"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8574170060455799, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}