washington prominent republican senators thursday embrace push overhaul rule address sexual harassment u.s. congress sign bill would protect victims require lawmakers pay settlements legislation build demand lift veil secrecy around sexual harassment misconduct capitol hill gain steam recent months wave women come forward accusations prominent american men politics media entertainment bipartisan push signal momentum republican-led u.s. congress overhaul process handle misconduct allegations many lawmakers say antiquate stack victims senate bill call congressional harassment reform act draw proposals senator kirsten gillibrand representative jackie speier democrats develop congress really behind eight-ball think many respect private sector act swiftly term address sexual harassment speier say interview high-profile republican senators co-sponsoring bill include john cornyn senate republican ted cruz joni ernst lisa murkowski legislation would require member congress find liable harassment pay settlements rather taxpayer fund current process allow congress laws secret settlements taxpayer money cover harassment long tolerate cruz say statement settlements would make public automatically unless victims choose keep private outrage sexual misconduct politics help fuel upset victory democrat doug jones u.s. senate race deeply conservative alabama tuesday voters reject republican candidate race roy moore accuse multiple women pursue teenagers 30s include one woman say try initiate sexual contact 14. moore deny allegations many prominent republicans distance moore although president donald trump back washington allegations sexual misconduct prompt resignations last week three lawmakers democratic senator al franken democratic representative john conyers republican representative trent frank tuesday republican representative blake farenthold say would seek re-election november politico report congressional office compliance pay 84,000 public fund behalf farenthold settle sexual harassment claim 2015. reuters unable verify allegations farenthold say charge false deny wrongdoing 1995 law govern process complaints congress create wake harassment scandal criticize ineffective lengthy cumbersome process require victims go mandatory mediation require complete secrecy create protective blanket around harasser leave victim cold speier say speier work issue since 2014 come forward october story unwanted sexual contact chief staff lawmaker work congressional aide kiss stick tongue mouth say speier become resource women seek advice handle similar situations happen disgust kind recoil speier proposals reform attract support 100 members include 19 republicans group conservative republicans champion separate bill focus ban use taxpayer dollars settlements require past settlements disclose reimburse agree taxpayers hook misbehavior settlements make say marsha blackburn republican representative advocate proposal need use make certain workplaces respectful blackburn say interview house committee review reform eye make recommendations come weeks think take best ideas put one package senior house republican aide say republicans join push lift secrecy around misconduct congress