Crapo, Ernst, Gillibrand Aim to Eliminate Federal Pensions for Sex Offenders

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) are working together to end taxpayer-funded pensions for convicted sex offenders.

Under current law, federal employees convicted of sex crimes, including against children, remain eligible to collect their pensions, even from a jail cell. The Senators introduced new legislation to ensure the federal government is a place where sexual predators are shut out, not shielded.

"Federal employees convicted of a sex crime should be barred from collecting a taxpayer-funded pension," said Crapo. "This legislation would close a flawed loophole in the pension system and ensure public funds are not used inappropriately."

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