House lawmakers are set to vote on new chamber rules that for the first time explicitly prohibit members from engaging in sexual harassment.

Thursday's scheduled vote comes amid an ongoing national discussion about sexual misconduct by entertainers and elected officials.

The rules include a policy statement asserting that the House is committed to providing a safe and respectful workplace free of sexual harassment. It also says allegations of harassment involving a House member will be taken seriously and investigated in a timely and confidential manner, and that retaliation against any member or staffer for reporting a violation of the anti-harassment policy will not be permitted.

In the past, the House rules did not address sexual harassment, and the chamber's existing sexual harassment policy applies only to staffers, not elected representatives.