As Congress considers expanding civil rights to encompass LGBTQ Americans, Senate staffers want their bosses to shore up such protections for the congressional workforce itself.

In a letter sent April 8, the bipartisan Senate GLASS Caucus urged chamber offices to adopt policy manuals that include protections for LGBTQ employees from discrimination.

The group said the Senate does not currently have standing rules or procedures that prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, with individual offices and committees determining their own policies.

The letter comes amid hearings in the House about the Equality Act, which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations and programs that use federal funding such as Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Veterans Affairs clinics, and health plans sold on the individual market.

Founded in 2004, the nonpartisan GLASS Caucus focuses much of its energy on professional development through a mentoring program. Part of its mission is to raise awareness about issues affecting the LGBTQ community.