IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 240 

Expressing support for the designation of July 30, 2019, as ‘‘National 

Whistleblower Appreciation Day’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 14, 2019 

Ms. SPEIER (for herself, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. MEADOWS, Miss RICE of New 

York, Ms. NORTON, and Ms. TITUS) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of July 30, 2019, 

as ‘‘National Whistleblower Appreciation Day’’. 

Whereas, in 1777, before the passage of the Bill of Rights, 

10 sailors and marines blew the whistle on misconduct 

that was harmful to the United States; 

Whereas the Continental Congress unanimously supported 

the whistleblowers in words and deeds, including by releasing Government records and authorizing payment for 

legal expenses incurred by the whistleblowers incurred in 

defending against a retaliatory criminal libel lawsuit 

brought against them; 

Whereas, on July 30, 1778, in demonstration of their full 

support for whistleblowers, the Members of the Continental Congress unanimously enacted the first whistleVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Mar 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR240.IH HR240

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•HRES 240 IH 

blower legislation in the United States that read: ‘‘Resolved, That it is the duty of all persons in the service 

of the United States, as well as all other the inhabitants 

thereof, to give the earliest information to Congress or 

other proper authority of any misconduct, frauds or misdemeanors committed by any officers or persons in the 

service of these states, which may come to their knowledge’’; 

Whereas whistleblowers risk their careers, jobs, and reputations by reporting waste, fraud, and abuse to the proper 

authorities; 

Whereas in providing the proper authorities with lawful disclosures, whistleblowers save the taxpayers of the United 

States billions of dollars each year and serve the public 

interest by ensuring that the United States remains an 

ethical and safe place; and 

Whereas it is the public policy of the United States to encourage, in accordance with Federal law (including the 

Constitution of the United States, rules, and regulations) 

and consistent with the protection of classified information (including sources and methods of detection of classified information), honest and good faith reporting of 

misconduct, fraud, misdemeanors, and other crimes to 

the appropriate authority at the earliest time possible: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House— 

2 (1) designates ‘‘National Whistleblower Appre3 ciation Day’’; and 

4 (2) ensures that the Federal Government imple5 ments the intent of the Founding Fathers, as reVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Mar 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR240.IH HR240

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•HRES 240 IH 

1 flected in the legislation enacted on July 30, 1778, 

2 by encouraging each executive agency to recognize 

3 National Whistleblower Appreciation Day by— 

4 (A) informing employees, contractors work5 ing on behalf of United States taxpayers, and 

6 members of the public about the legal right of 

7 a United States citizen to ‘‘blow the whistle’’ to 

8 the appropriate authority by honest and good 

9 faith reporting of misconduct, fraud, mis10 demeanors, or other crimes; and 

11 (B) acknowledging the contributions of 

12 whistleblowers to combating waste, fraud, 

13 abuse, and violations of laws and regulations of 

14 the United States. 

Æ 


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