The House Government Reform Committee has approved
HR-1317, which is designed to enhance whistleblower
protections for federal employees. The legislation would
include as a protected disclosure by a federal employee
any lawful disclosure an employee or applicant reasonably
believes is credible evidence of waste, abuse, or gross
mismanagement, without restriction as to time, place,
form, motive, context, or prior disclosure.
That change is a reaction to federal court opinions of
recent years that had the effect of narrowing what types
of disclosures are considered protected under
whistleblower law.
The legislation would also require a GAO study on security
clearances revocations alleged to be retaliatory.
During committee voting, the panel rejected an amendment
to bring certain national security employees under
general whistleblower protection law. An amendment to
include Transportation Security Administration screeners
might be offered on the House floor.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Committee has approved a similar bill (S-494).
