Congressman Luke Messer, a Republican representing Indiana’s 6th Congressional District, filed legislation on Thursday to better protect victims of sexual assault and harassment in Congress.

Messer’s bill would ensure victims aren’t silenced by non-disclosure agreements, and prohibit taxpayer dollars from being used to settle sexual harassment claims with members of Congress.

“Members of Congress should not treat taxpayer dollars like a slush fund to settle sexual harassment charges, and my legislation would put a stop to it,” Messer said. “It would also empower the victims who want to tell their story to come forward and do so.”

The Empowering Victims of Sexual Misconduct Act would release Congressional staff from current non-disclosure agreements signed as part of a sexual assault settlement with a Member of Congress, and prohibit non-disclosure agreements like this in the future. It would also prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to settle sexual harassment claims by a member of Congress or employee of the House or Senate. Additionally, the bill would require previous settlements that were paid out with taxpayer dollars involving members of Congress to be reimbursed to the U.S. Treasury.

This effort by Messer follows recent reports that Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) settled a sexual harassment complaint with a former staff member using taxpayer dollars. The Associated Press reports that the government has paid more than $17 million in taxpayer money over the last 20 years to settle sexual harassment claims and other workplace violations filed by employees of Congress.

Congressional leadership of both parties have called for Conyers to resign.