The House has passed the Republican-favored Stop Government Abuse Act, largely along party lines.
The measure had been blocked by Democrats on procedural grounds but eventually passed 239-176, and is to be considered in the Senate.
HR-2879 includes guarantees that Americans have the right to record meetings and phone calls with federal regulators engaged in enforcement activities.
It allows agencies to place senior employees on unpaid leave when they are under investigation for serious offenses.
It would also limit the size of federal bonuses during sequestration as well as the percentage of senior agency employees that may receive awards in a given year with sequestration in effect.
