washington lawmakers party work legislation would make members congress liable settlements sexual harassment claim new data show public fund use settle nearly dozen case misconduct last decade 2008 2012 employment office congress pay 166,000 public money settle eight claim lawmakers allege sexual harassment discrimination accord data provide tuesday representative gregg harper republican chairman house administration committee draft bill overhaul congress handle sexual harassment office compliance previously say resolve three case since 2013. provision settlement agreements legal limit block office disclose detail payouts make behalf lawmakers include identities involve issue come light allegations misconduct swirl around capitol hill grow wave women report abuse misconduct bring powerful men recently movie producer harvey weinstein popular television personality matt lauer well one longest-serving democrats congress former representative john conyers harper say tuesday hop file bipartisan bill wednesday even overhaul congress handle sexual harassment would include make lawmakers personally liable settlements reimburse government payouts tell reporters doubt members make clear taxpayer dollars use purpose settle sexual harassment claim harper expect swift action house vote bill next month democratic representative jackie speier propose similar legislation work harper republicans say thrill bill bipartisan legislation sexual harassment introduce senate last week letter harper compliance office executive director say pay 354,465.85 settle 16 total claim employment discrimination retaliation harassment fiscal 2008 fiscal 2012. accord letter eight claim include sexual harassment discrimination often involve violations break federal wage rule two claim simply categorize retaliation rest focus racial age disability discrimination large amount pay years 85,000 label sexual harassment harassment retaliation office investigatory authority probe allegations say executive director susan tsui grundmann letter settlements typically nondisclosure provision say add office find admission liability settlement document bill could make congress members liable harassment payouts