Kirsten Gillibrand

Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., introduced a bill on Friday to prevent convicted sex criminals from receiving federal pensions.

The bill, called "No Taxpayer-Funded Pensions for Sex Criminals Act," comes after Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., resigned from Congress last month over rape and sexual misconduct accusations made against him, the New York Post reported.

“There should be absolutely no room for the tolerance of egregious sex crimes,” said Ernst, a sexual assault survivor.

“Allowing proven predators to continue collecting their pensions on the taxpayer’s dime only serves to greenlight unacceptable behavior, and I won’t stand for it. My commonsense, bipartisan bill imposes consequences for sex offenders, prevents abuse in the workplace, and safeguards taxpayer dollars.”

“It’s outrageous that federal employees convicted of sex crimes are eligible to collect their taxpayer-funded pension,” Gillibrand said. “The bipartisan No Taxpayer-Funded Pensions for Sex Criminals Act ensures that no hard-earned taxpayer dollars are spent supporting criminal sex offenders. I’m proud to support this commonsense bill that will provide much-needed accountability.”

The accusations of sexual harassment or abuse against Swalwell come from five women, two of whom claim that he had raped them. Both the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office are investigating those allegations, while the Justice Department has confirmed it is probing possible illegal acts that Swalwell allegedly committed in Washington, D.C.

Swalwell, 45, has denied the allegations, but said he made “mistakes in judgment” when he announced the end of his California gubernatorial campaign on April 12 and resigned from the House of Representatives two days later.

The former congressman remains eligible for a congressional pension when he turns 62 years old, which is estimated to be more than $22,000 annually.

Under current law, Congress members who serve at least five years in office are eligible for the pension. Swalwell began serving in Congress in 2013.