Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act of 2015

To provide anti-retaliation protections for antitrust whistleblowers. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act of 2015 2. Amendment to ACPERA The Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 ( Public Law 108–237 15 U.S.C. 1 216. Anti-retaliation protection for whistleblowers (a) Whistleblower protections for employees, contractors, subcontractors, and agents (1) In general No employer may discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass, or in any other manner discriminate against a covered individual in the terms and conditions of employment of the covered individual because— (A) the covered individual provided or caused to be provided to the employer or the Federal Government information relating to— (i) any violation of, or any act or omission the covered individual reasonably believes to be a violation of, the antitrust laws; or (ii) any violation of, or any act or omission the covered individual reasonably believes to be a violation of, another criminal law committed in conjunction with a potential violation of the antitrust laws or in conjunction with an investigation by the Department of Justice of a potential violation of the antitrust laws; or (B) the covered individual filed, caused to be filed, testified, participated in, or otherwise assisted an investigation or a proceeding filed or about to be filed (with any knowledge of the employer) relating to— (i) any violation of, or any act or omission the covered individual reasonably believes to be a violation of, the antitrust laws; or (ii) any violation of, or any act or omission the covered individual reasonably believes to be a violation of, another criminal law committed in conjunction with a potential violation of the antitrust laws or in conjunction with an investigation by the Department of Justice of a potential violation of the antitrust laws. (2) Limitation on protections Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any covered individual if— (A) the covered individual planned and initiated a violation or attempted violation of the antitrust laws; (B) the covered individual planned and initiated a violation or attempted violation of another criminal law in conjunction with a violation or attempted violation of the antitrust laws; or (C) the covered individual planned and initiated an obstruction or attempted obstruction of an investigation by the Department of Justice of a violation of the antitrust laws. (3) Definitions In this section: (A) Antitrust laws The term antitrust laws (B) Covered individual The term covered individual (C) Employer The term employer (D) Person The term person 15 U.S.C. 12(a) (4) Rule of construction The term violation (b) Enforcement action (1) In general A covered individual who alleges discharge or other discrimination by any employer in violation of subsection (a) may seek relief under subsection (c) by— (A) filing a complaint with the Secretary of Labor; or (B) if the Secretary of Labor has not issued a final decision within 180 days of the filing of the complaint and there is no showing that such delay is due to the bad faith of the claimant, bringing an action at law or equity for de novo review in the appropriate district court of the United States, which shall have jurisdiction over such an action without regard to the amount in controversy. (2) Procedure (A) In general A complaint filed with the Secretary of Labor under paragraph (1)(A) shall be governed under the rules and procedures set forth in section 42121(b) of title 49, United States Code. (B) Exception Notification made under section 42121(b)(1) of title 49, United States Code, shall be made to any individual named in the complaint and to the employer. (C) Burdens of proof A complaint filed with the Secretary of Labor under paragraph (1)(A) shall be governed by the legal burdens of proof set forth in section 42121(b) of title 49, United States Code. (D) Statute of limitations A complaint under paragraph (1)(A) shall be filed with the Secretary of Labor not later than 180 days after the date on which the violation occurs. (E) Civil actions to enforce If a person fails to comply with an order or preliminary order issued by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to the procedures set forth in section 42121(b) of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary of Labor or the person on whose behalf the order was issued may bring a civil action to enforce the order in the district court of the United States for the judicial district in which the violation occurred. (c) Remedies (1) In general A covered individual prevailing in any action under subsection (b)(1) shall be entitled to all relief necessary to make the covered individual whole. (2) Compensatory damages Relief for any action under paragraph (1) shall include— (A) reinstatement with the same seniority status that the covered individual would have had, but for the discrimination; (B) the amount of back pay, with interest; and (C) compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination including litigation costs, expert witness fees, and reasonable attorney’s fees. (d) Rights retained by whistleblowers Nothing in this section shall be deemed to diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of any covered individual under any Federal or State law, or under any collective bargaining agreement. . 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act of 2015 2. Amendment to ACPERA The Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 ( Public Law 108–237 15 U.S.C. 1 216. Anti-retaliation protection for whistleblowers (a) Whistleblower protections for employees, contractors, subcontractors, and agents (1) In general No employer may discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass, or in any other manner discriminate against a covered individual in the terms and conditions of employment of the covered individual because of any lawful act done by the covered individual— (A) to provide or cause to be provided to the employer or the Federal Government information relating to— (i) any violation of, or any act or omission the covered individual reasonably believes to be a violation of, the antitrust laws; or (ii) any violation of, or any act or omission the covered individual reasonably believes to be a violation of, another criminal law committed in conjunction with a potential violation of the antitrust laws or in conjunction with an investigation by the Department of Justice of a potential violation of the antitrust laws; or (B) to cause to be filed, testify in, participate in, or otherwise assist a Federal Government investigation or a Federal Government proceeding filed or about to be filed (with any knowledge of the employer) relating to— (i) any violation of, or any act or omission the covered individual reasonably believes to be a violation of, the antitrust laws; or (ii) any violation of, or any act or omission the covered individual reasonably believes to be a violation of, another criminal law committed in conjunction with a potential violation of the antitrust laws or in conjunction with an investigation by the Department of Justice of a potential violation of the antitrust laws. (2) Limitation on protections Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any covered individual if— (A) the covered individual planned and initiated a violation or attempted violation of the antitrust laws; (B) the covered individual planned and initiated a violation or attempted violation of another criminal law in conjunction with a violation or attempted violation of the antitrust laws; or (C) the covered individual planned and initiated an obstruction or attempted obstruction of an investigation by the Department of Justice of a violation of the antitrust laws. (3) Definitions In this section: (A) Antitrust laws The term antitrust laws (B) Covered individual The term covered individual (C) Employer The term employer (D) Federal Government The term Federal Government (i) a Federal regulatory or law enforcement agency; or (ii) any Member of Congress or committee of Congress. (E) Person The term person 15 U.S.C. 12(a) (4) Rule of construction The term violation (b) Enforcement action (1) In general A covered individual who alleges discharge or other discrimination by any employer in violation of subsection (a) may seek relief under subsection (c) by— (A) filing a complaint with the Secretary of Labor; or (B) if the Secretary of Labor has not issued a final decision within 180 days of the filing of the complaint and there is no showing that such delay is due to the bad faith of the claimant, bringing an action at law or equity for de novo review in the appropriate district court of the United States, which shall have jurisdiction over such an action without regard to the amount in controversy. (2) Procedure (A) In general A complaint filed with the Secretary of Labor under paragraph (1)(A) shall be governed under the rules and procedures set forth in section 42121(b) of title 49, United States Code. (B) Exception Notification made under section 42121(b)(1) of title 49, United States Code, shall be made to any individual named in the complaint and to the employer. (C) Burdens of proof A complaint filed with the Secretary of Labor under paragraph (1)(A) shall be governed by the legal burdens of proof set forth in section 42121(b) of title 49, United States Code. (D) Statute of limitations A complaint under paragraph (1)(A) shall be filed with the Secretary of Labor not later than 180 days after the date on which the violation occurs. (E) Civil actions to enforce If a person fails to comply with an order or preliminary order issued by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to the procedures set forth in section 42121(b) of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary of Labor or the person on whose behalf the order was issued may bring a civil action to enforce the order in the district court of the United States for the judicial district in which the violation occurred. (c) Remedies (1) In general A covered individual prevailing in any action under subsection (b)(1) shall be entitled to all relief necessary to make the covered individual whole. (2) Compensatory damages Relief for any action under paragraph (1) shall include— (A) reinstatement with the same seniority status that the covered individual would have had, but for the discrimination; (B) the amount of back pay, with interest; and (C) compensation for any special damages sustained as a result of the discrimination including litigation costs, expert witness fees, and reasonable attorney’s fees. (d) Rights retained by whistleblowers Nothing in this section shall be deemed to diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of any covered individual under any Federal or State law, or under any collective bargaining agreement. . July 16, 2015 Reported with an amendment

Summary: Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act of 2004 to prohibit an employer from discharging, demoting, suspending, harassing, or in any other manner discriminating against an employee, contractor, subcontractor, or agent of such employer (covered individual) who by a lawful act: (1) provided information to the employer or a federal regulatory or law enforcement agency, or any Member of Congress or congressional committee concerning a violation of antitrust law or of another criminal law committed in conjunction with a potential violation of antitrust law or in conjunction with an antitrust investigation by the Department of Justice; or (2) filed or caused to be filed, testified, participated, or otherwise assisted in a federal investigation or proceeding relating to such a violation. This protection does not extend, however, to any covered individual who planned and initiated such a violation or an obstruction to its investigation. A violation with respect to the antitrust laws shall not be construed to include a civil violation of any law that is not also a criminal violation. A covered individual who alleges discharge or other discrimination by an employer in violation of such prohibition is authorized to seek relief: (1) by filing a complaint with the Department of Labor; or (2) if Labor has not issued a final decision within 180 days of such filing, by bringing an action at law or equity in the appropriate U.S. district court. A covered individual who prevails in any such action is entitled to all relief necessary to make the individual whole, including reinstatement with the same status, back pay plus interest, and compensation for special damages sustained.