Richard Cowan and Moira Warburton

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate approved a bill Thursday that prohibits companies from forcing sexual assault and harassment victims to settle with an arbitrator without having the right of filing a suit.

This bill was passed by the House of Representatives earlier this week. It was then sent to President Joe Biden, who will sign it into law. In a voice vote the Senate passed it, which shows broad bipartisan support for this bill in narrowly divided Senate.

In 2017, Democratic Senator Kirsten Gilbrand (NYSE:) and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, sponsored the bill known as Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment. The bill would give federal protection to employees who are accused of sexual harassment and assault. It also nullifies clauses that require employees to arbitrate with their employers.

Republican senator Joni Ernst spoke on the Senate floor and stated that the bill would ensure survivors of sexual assault or harassment are heard.

The bill’s language is too narrow, she said. This bill shouldn’t be used to destroy pre-dispute arbitration agreements for all employment matters.

This bill was one of few pieces that were passed by a divided Senate in this year’s narrowly divided Senate. It includes Biden’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill, and an increase to the debt limit.