Whistleblower Protection Coordination Act

Bill: 115-s-1869
Sponsor: Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]
Introduced: 2017-09-27 in the Senate
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: 2018-06-25
text: 

Whistleblower Protection Coordination Act 
 
 
(Sec. 2) 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: 2018-06-25
text: Became Public Law No: 115-192.
action_date: 2018-06-25
text: Became Public Law No: 115-192.
action_date: 2018-06-25
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2018-06-25
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2018-06-14
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2018-06-14
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H4870-4871)
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H4870-4871)
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Mr. Blum asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
action_date: 2018-06-07
text: Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H4870-4871)
action_date: 2018-03-15
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2018-03-15
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2018-03-15
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2018-03-15
text: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S1771)
action_date: 2018-03-15
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S1771)
action_date: 2018-03-15
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S1770-1771)
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 286.
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment. With written report No. 115-196.
action_date: 2017-12-14
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment. With written report No. 115-196.
action_date: 2017-10-04
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2017-09-27
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-09-27
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 115-192