Whistleblower Protection Extension Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-4043
Sponsor: Rep. Blum, Rod [R-IA-1]
Introduced: 2017-10-12 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Employment discrimination and employee rights
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Merit Systems Protection Board
Office of Special Counsel

Summary:
action_date: 2017-10-12
text: 

Whistleblower Protection Extension Act of 2017
 
 
This bill permanently extends the requirement for inspectors general (IGs) to designate a Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman to educate agency employees about prohibitions on retaliation, and the rights and remedies against retaliation, for protected disclosures.
 
The bill renames the Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman as the Whistleblower Protection Coordinator. It also expands the responsibilities of a Whistleblower Protection Coordinator to include the following:
 
 
educating employees about specific rights and remedies (e.g., the means by which an employee may seek review of an allegation of reprisal);
 
assisting the IG in promoting the timely and appropriate handling and consideration of protected disclosures and allegations of reprisal; and
 
assisting the IG in facilitating communication and coordination with other relevant persons and entities regarding timely and appropriate handling and consideration of protected disclosures, allegations of reprisal, and other general matters.
 
 
A Whistleblower Protection Coordinator must have direct access to the IG to accomplish such responsibilities.
 
The bill also expands the responsibilities of the Council on the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency to include the following:
 
 
facilitating the work of the Whistleblower Protection Coordinators; and
 
developing best practices for promoting the timely and appropriate handling and consideration of protected disclosures, allegations of reprisal, and other matters.
 
 
Finally, the bill adds reporting requirements for semiannual reports. Specifically, with respect to instances of whistle-blower retaliation by an official, an Office of Inspector General must report on (1) the actual consequences imposed on the official who engaged in retaliation, and (2) whether a settlement agreement was entered with that official.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-03-07
text: Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 340.
action_date: 2018-03-06
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2018-03-06
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1417-1418)
action_date: 2018-03-06
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H1417-1418)
action_date: 2018-03-06
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4043.
action_date: 2018-03-06
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1417-1418)
action_date: 2018-03-06
text: Mr. Blum moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 380.
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-510.
action_date: 2018-01-11
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-510.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2017-11-02
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-10-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2017-10-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-10-12
text: Introduced in House