Washington (CNN) A group of Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday are unveiling sweeping legislation to strengthen and expand federal protections aimed at preventing workplace harassment and discrimination nationwide.

The legislation, titled the "BE HEARD in the Workplace Act," is being introduced in the Senate by Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, a member of Senate leadership and the top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee.

A number of high-profile congressional Democrats have signed on as co-sponsors, including 2020 candidates Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Amy Klobuchar and Cory Booker as well as Bernie Sanders, an Independent who caucuses with Democrats.

A companion version of the legislation is also being introduced in the House, an effort led by Democratic Reps. Katherine Clark, Ayanna Pressley, Elissa Slotkin and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

While the Democratic-backed bill faces tough odds of passage given the Republican-controlled Senate, the effort comes after Congress passed long-stalled legislation at the end of last year to reform the way sexual harassment is handled on Capitol Hill.

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