The House speaker, Mike Johnson , and the minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries , on Wednesday announced a bipartisan effort to combat sexual misconduct on Capitol Hill.

The “partnership” led by the chairs of the Republican and Democratic women’s caucuses – congresswomen Kat Cammack of Florida and Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico – aims to “identify reforms and solutions to make Congress a safer work environment for women and all survivors”, the leaders said in a joint statement.

“No woman – regardless of party, title, or position – should ever feel unsafe in her workplace. Period,” Cammack said in a statement announcing the taskforce.

The initiative comes after former representative Eric Swalwell, a Democrat, stepped down from Congress in April, following multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct that ended his bid for California governor.…