The Senate immediately passed a bill Wednesday morning to force the Justice Department to publicly release its files on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

At the same time, the new government funding bill includes a provision allowing senators to sue the Justice Department for $500,000 or more in damages if their personal information is subpoenaed without their knowledge. Some Republican lawmakers' phone information was disclosed prior for FBI investigations.

The Associated Press got reactions from Republican and Democratic senators about both the Epstein files vote and the new provision.

“I think every American citizen ought to be concerned when the Department of Justice issued subpoenas to the United States senators without even acknowledging or letting them know that they are being investigated," said Senator John Cornyn of Texas.

"Because, look, they'll do it to the United States senators, they are going to do it to other people don't have the bully proof to defend themselves," added Cornyn.

On the Epstein files bill, which now heads to President Trump for his approval, senators said they expect a release soon.

“I've been saying, for a long time that I think that, all the credible information that can be released should be released," said Senator Eric Schemitt of Missouri. "So I think that's positive development.”