Three Democratic lawmakers have announced legislation
that would expand whistleblower protections to national
security employees and contractors and allow them to
pursue their cases in court rather than through federal
agencies.
Authored by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and Reps. Edward
Markey, D-Mass., and Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the
legislation would criminalize whistleblower retaliation in
the worst cases — and provide a $50,000 penalty for it —
as well as hold those who engage in prohibited personnel
ractices civilly liable.
That would mean officials could face civil penalty from the
Department of Justice in such matters, but they would not be
held liable to employees, if sued, for example.
The legislation comes on the heels of two bi-partisan
whistleblower bills approved in Senate and House committees
last year, but so far not scheduled for a floor vote. The
new legislation would build on those by extending similar
laws protecting private sector employees under the Sarbes-Oxley
Act, by providing jury trials for whistleblower cases, for
instance.
The bill would also provide protection from frivolous state
secret claims to withhold information such as an employee’s
date of birth, according to a statement from Lautenberg’s
office.
“Those who uncover waste, fraud and abuse should not be fired,
they should be applauded,” said Lautenberg.
“The American people should know when their government is
working for them and when it isn’t,” Rep. Maloney said, adding,
“they should know when an administration is concealing
something not to protect the country, but to protect its
political standing.”
