SEC. 4. WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE HOTLINE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treasury 
shall establish, publicize, and operate a national toll-free 
telephone number to serve as a hotline for members of 
the public to report waste, fraud, or abuse related to funds 
distributed under title I of the Emergency Economic Sta-
bilization Act of 2008 or the American Recovery and Rein-
vestment Act of 2009. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, and quarterly thereafter, the 
Secretary of the Treasury shall issue a report to the Con-
gress containing— 
(1) a description of the Secretary’s compliance 
with subsection (a); and 
(2) a description of the actions the Secretary is 
taking to address instances of waste, fraud, or abuse 
reported to the hotline. 
(c) WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—No company, or any officer, 
employee, contractor, subcontractor, or agent of 
such company, may discharge, demote, suspend, 
threaten, harass, or in any other manner discrimi-
nate against an employee in the terms and condi-
tions of employment because of any lawful act done 
by the employee— 
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(A) to provide information, cause informa-
tion to be provided, or otherwise assist in an in-
vestigation regarding any conduct which the 
employee reasonably believes constitutes waste, 
fraud, or abuse related to funds distributed 
under title I of the Emergency Economic Sta-
bilization Act of 2008 or the American Recov-
ery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, where such 
waste, fraud, or abuse was reported to the hot-
line established under subsection (a); or 
(B) to file, cause to be filed, testify, par-
ticipate in, or otherwise assist in a proceeding 
filed or about to be filed (with any knowledge 
of the employer) relating to alleged waste, 
fraud, or abuse related to funds distributed 
under title I of the Emergency Economic Sta-
bilization Act of 2008 or the American Recov-
ery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, where such 
alleged waste, fraud, or abuse was reported to 
the hotline established under subsection (a). 
(2) ENFORCEMENT ACTION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—A person who alleges 
discharge or other discrimination by any person 
in violation of paragraph (1) may seek relief 
under paragraph (3), by— 
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(i) filing a complaint with the Sec-
retary of Labor; or 
(ii) if the Secretary 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 appro-
priate district court of the United States, 
which shall have jurisdiction over such an 
action without regard to the amount in 
controversy. 
(B) PROCEDURE.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—An action under 
subparagraph (A)(i) shall be governed 
under the rules and procedures set forth in 
section 42121(b) of title 49, United States 
Code. 
(ii) NOTIFICATION
EXCEPTION.—No-
tification made under section 42121(b)(1) 
of title 49, United States Code, shall be 
made to the person named in the com-
plaint and to the employer. 
(iii) BURDENS OF PROOF.—An action 
brought under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall 
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be governed by the legal burdens of proof 
set forth in section 42121(b) of title 49, 
United States Code. 
(iv) STATUTE
OF
LIMITATIONS.—An 
action under subparagraph (A) shall be 
commenced not later than 90 days after 
the date on which the violation occurs. 
(3) REMEDIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An employee prevailing 
in any action under paragraph (2)(A) shall be 
entitled to all relief necessary to make the em-
ployee whole. 
(B) COMPENSATORY DAMAGES.—Relief for 
any action under subparagraph (A) shall in-
clude— 
(i) reinstatement with the same se-
niority status that the employee would 
have had, but for the discrimination; 
(ii) the amount of back pay, with in-
terest; and 
(iii) compensation for any special 
damages sustained as a result of the dis-
crimination, including litigation costs, ex-
pert witness fees, and reasonable attorney 
fees. 
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(4) RIGHTS RETAINED BY EMPLOYEE.—Noth-
ing in this subsection shall be deemed to diminish 
the rights, privileges, or remedies of any employee 
under any Federal or State law, or under any collec-
tive bargaining agreement. 
SEC. 5. RECOVERY ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY 
BOARD REQUESTS OF INSPECTOR GENERALS 
FOR AUDITS OR INSPECTIONS. 
Section 1527(b) of the American Recovery and Rein-
vestment Act of 2009 is amended by striking ‘‘and the 
inspector general rejects’’ and all that follows through the 
end of the subsection and inserting ‘‘, the Board shall 
make such request available to the public on the website 
recovery.gov.’’. 
Æ 
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