Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville) spoke on the House floor last night in favor of the adoption of H. Res. 895, which passed 229-182. The legislation will create an independent Office of Congressional Ethics comprised of six members who are jointly appointed by the speaker and minority leader.

“The proposed Office of Congressional Ethics will serve as an effective complement, but not a substitute for, the House Standards of Official Conduct,” Hoyer, the House Majority Leader, said.

According to a press release provided by the congressman’s press office, the new office will “have the power to initiate investigations of members of Congress. At the conclusion of an investigation, the panel would report its findings to the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (Ethics Committee) and recommend whether the committee should take further action.”

“This new rule is essential to instilling confidence in the ethics process and ensuring Members of Congress who violate the law or rules of the House of Representatives are held accountable for their actions,” the release said.

The vote was largely split along party lines, as some Republican members argued that the creation of another office with a formal role in the House ethics process was unnecessary.

All of Maryland’s Democratic representatives voted in favor of the measure, with the exception of Rep. Al Wynn, who did not vote.

The state’s two GOP representatives, Wayne Gilchrest and Roscoe Bartlett, voted against the bill.

“If I thought for one moment that H. Res. 895 imperiled the independence of the House or exposed members to risks they do not already face, I would not support this resolution,” Hoyer said.

“But that is not the case.”