Boehner tells members to dress appropriately — 'You know who you are'

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Monday told members to dress appropriately on the House floor. 

He did so while giving members a three-minute reminder of how they can ensure adherence to proper floor procedures, including the dress code.

"Members should wear appropriate business attire during all sittings of the House, however brief their presence on the floor might be," Boehner said. He then added mischievously, "You know who you are," drawing laughter from the seated House members.

An injured Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) recently garnered widespread headlines and media attention when he appeared on the House floor in a sling and a t-shirt with a sports coat over it. 

Boehner also reminded members not to move about in the well of the House when others are speaking, and to speak only after obtaining recognition, which he said helps ensure accurate transcriptions of House proceedings. He also warned against playing to the audience, and to address comments to the chair, not others or "some perceived viewing audience."

House members are often reminded of these rules as they break them during the legislative process, and Boehner called on all members to follow them more closely.

"Following these basic standards of practice, I think, will foster an atmosphere of mutual institutional respect," he said. "It will also insure against personal confrontation amongst individual members or between members and the presiding officer."

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