Republican Rep. Kat Cammack and other lawmakers are calling for basic criminal background checks and foreign ties disclosures for congressional staff and interns, arguing it is “237 years overdue” given mounting evidence of foreign influence inside the Capitol.

Cammack has introduced H.Res. 500, which would require the U.S. Capitol Police to conduct criminal background checks on all House employees and mandate public disclosure of recent foreign government payments, contracts, or citizenship. Despite repeated calls for a floor vote, the measure remains stalled in committee.

The push comes after declassified files and multiple scandals highlighted serious vulnerabilities. Cases include longtime Chinese spy concerns around former Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s office, Rep. Eric Swalwell’s connection to a suspected Chinese intelligence operative, and recent reports of foreign agents being placed as interns in congressional offices.

Congressional staff draft legislation, handle sensitive information, attend classified briefings, and wield significant influence behind the scenes. Yet, for most of the nation’s history, these positions have operated with shockingly lax vetting — often less scrutiny than a typical private-sector job.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has also voiced support for banning romantic or sexual relationships between lawmakers and their staff, calling it inappropriate and something that should meet basic corporate workplace standards.

These common-sense reforms should not be controversial. Protecting America’s legislative process from foreign espionage and internal corruption is fundamental to national security. Allowing potential agents of adversarial nations access to sensitive policy work without basic checks is an unacceptable risk.

It’s time for Congress to finally close these glaring loopholes and hold its own workforce to the same standards it imposes on the American people.