IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 173 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that, in order to 

make commonsense reforms under sequestration, Federal employees 

should be encouraged to suggest ways to make more sensible or more 

efficient budget reductions within their employing department or agency, 

knowing that they are protected under the whistleblower protection laws. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 23, 2013 

Mr. GARDNER (for himself and Mr. CRAMER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government 

Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that, 

in order to make commonsense reforms under sequestration, Federal employees should be encouraged to suggest 

ways to make more sensible or more efficient budget 

reductions within their employing department or agency, 

knowing that they are protected under the whistleblower 

protection laws. 

Whereas on March 1, 2013, sequestration took effect, thereby 

reducing the money available to Federal agencies; 

Whereas the House of Representatives passed 2 bills that 

would have made commonsense reforms to reductions in 


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•HRES 173 IH 

Department of Defense programs and certain domestic 

programs; 

Whereas the Government spent $3.538 trillion in the fiscal 

year that ended in September 2012, and the $85 billion 

sequester is 2.4 percent of the Federal budget; 

Whereas the President is implementing several tactics in his 

discussion of the potential effects of sequestration that 

needlessly alarm the American people, but there is some 

flexibility and discretion on how to implement the cuts, 

and the President must focus on more sensible reductions 

that can be made within departments and agencies; 

Whereas given the rising national debt and deficit, the Federal Government must reduce funding to programs, 

projects, and activities that are wasteful; 

Whereas the April 2013 Government Accountability Office report to Congress entitled, ‘‘Actions Needed to Reduce 

Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieve 

Other Financial Benefits’’ (and designated as GAO–13– 

279SP), presents 31 areas in which Government programs would be able to achieve greater efficiencies or become more effective in providing Government services; 

and 

Whereas it is the responsibility of the President and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to coordinate with the heads of the relevant departments and 

agencies to eliminate, consolidate, or streamline Government programs and agencies with duplicative and overlapping missions to save taxpayer dollars, rein in Washington spending, and curb the unnecessary consequences 

of sequestration: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, 


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•HRES 173 IH 

1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This resolution may be cited as ‘‘Waste Whistleblower 

3 Protection Resolution’’. 

4 SEC. 2. PROVIDING SUGGESTIONS FOR BUDGET REDUC5 TIONS AND REMINDERS FOR WHISTLE6 BLOWER PROTECTION. 

7 That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 

8 that, in order to avoid the unnecessary consequences of 

9 sequestration and given their knowledge of and experience 

10 with the operations of their respective employing depart11 ments or agencies, Federal employees— 

12 (1) should be encouraged to submit suggestions 

13 for ways to make more sensible or more efficient 

14 budget reductions within their employing department 

15 or agency; and 

16 (2) should be reminded of their protections 

17 under the whistleblower protection laws. 

Æ 


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