Brooks Selected as House Ethics Chairwoman

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN05) was selected as Chairwoman of the House Committee on Ethics. The Committee is the bipartisan supervising ethics office for the House of Representatives. It is responsible for setting and communicating the ethical rules and standards of the House of Representatives; offering current House members, officers and staff guidance and advice about how best to comply with the rules; conducting investigations into allegations of misconduct on the part of current House members, officers and employees; and reprimanding those who are found to have violated the House rules.

“Restoring confidence in Congress has been a goal of mine since the beginning of my Congressional service,” Brooks said. “With 2016 Congressional approval ratings hovering between 11 and 20 percent, transparent, responsible and ethical government is critical to rebuilding public trust and confidence in Congress. The House Committee on Ethics has an important role to play in holding members, officers and staff accountable to the American people and to our colleagues. As Chairwoman, I am committed to holding our members to a high standard of conduct; to conducting fair investigations into allegations and questions brought before the Committee; and to effectively and transparently communicating the Congressional ethics rules and standards to Members, staff and the American people.”

Brooks has served on the House Committee on Ethics since her first term. The House Committee on Ethics is one of 20 standing committees in the House of Representatives. The Committee is the only one in the House made up of an equal number of members from the Republican and Democrat parties.