Whistleblower Protection Reform Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-2515
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
Introduced: 2019-05-03
Policy area: Finance and Financial Sector
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Department of Labor

Employment discrimination and employee rights

Evidence and witnesses

Government studies and investigations

Labor standards

Retail and wholesale trades

Securities

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Travel and tourism

Wages and earnings
Latest action: action_date: 2019-07-10
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-05-03
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill expands&nbsp;the definition of a whistleblower with regard to securities law violations. Specifically, the bill extends protections from retaliation to individuals who assist in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation of these violations or who make disclosures that are required or protected under any law subject to the SEC's jurisdiction. Currently, these protections apply only to individuals who report information directly to the SEC. </p>

action_date: 2019-07-09
action_desc: Passed House
text: <p><b>Whistleblower Protection Reform Act of 2019</b></p> <p>This bill expands&nbsp;the definition of a whistleblower with regard to securities law violations. Specifically, the bill extends protections from retaliation to individuals who (1) make disclosures to certain individuals at their place of employment regarding conduct in violation of any law under Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) jurisdiction, (2) assist in an SEC investigation of these violations, or (3) make disclosures that are required or protected under any law subject to SEC jurisdiction. Currently, these protections apply only to individuals who report information directly to the SEC. </p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2515 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 3, 2019 Mr. Green of Texas (for himself, Mr. Huizenga , and Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services A BILL To amend the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 to amend the definition of whistleblower.

1. Whistleblower Section 21F(a)(6) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ( 15 U.S.C. 78u–6(a)(6) ) is amended— (1) by striking (6) Whistleblower.— The term and inserting the following: (6) Whistleblower (A) In general The term ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (B) Special rule Solely for the purposes of subsection (h), the term whistleblower shall also include any individual who takes an action described in subsection (h)(1)(A), or two or more individuals acting jointly who take an action described in subsection (h)(1)(A). .

tv_txt: IIB 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2515 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 10, 2019 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs AN ACT To amend the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 to amend the definition of whistleblower, to extend the anti-retaliation protections provided to whistleblowers, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Whistleblower Protection Reform Act of 2019 . 2. Whistleblower Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ( 15 U.S.C. 78u–6 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(6)— (A) by striking (6) Whistleblower.— The term and inserting the following: (6) Whistleblower (A) In general The term ; and (B) by adding the following new subparagraph at the end: (B) Special rule Solely for the purposes of subsection (h)(1), the term whistleblower shall also include any individual who takes an action described in subsection (h)(1)(A), or two or more individuals acting jointly who take an action described in subsection (h)(1)(A). ; and (2) in subsection (h)(1)(A)— (A) in clause (ii), by striking or at the end; (B) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (iv) in providing information regarding any conduct that the whistleblower reasonably believes constitutes a violation of any law, rule, or regulation subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission to— (I) a person with supervisory authority over the whistleblower at the whistleblower’s employer, where such employer is an entity registered with or required to be registered with the Commission, a self-regulatory organization, or a State securities commission or office performing like functions; or (II) such other person working for the employer described under subclause (I) who has the authority to investigate, discover, or terminate misconduct. .

Passed the House of Representatives July 9, 2019. Cheryl L. Johnson, Clerk

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2515 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 to amend the definition of whistleblower, to extend the anti-retaliation protections provided to whistleblowers, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Whistleblower Protection Reform Act of 2019 . 2. Whistleblower Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ( 15 U.S.C. 78u–6 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(6)— (A) by striking (6) Whistleblower.— The term and inserting the following: (6) Whistleblower (A) In general The term ; and (B) by adding the following new subparagraph at the end: (B) Special rule Solely for the purposes of subsection (h)(1), the term whistleblower shall also include any individual who takes an action described in subsection (h)(1)(A), or two or more individuals acting jointly who take an action described in subsection (h)(1)(A). ; and (2) in subsection (h)(1)(A)— (A) in clause (ii), by striking or at the end; (B) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (iv) in providing information regarding any conduct that the whistleblower reasonably believes constitutes a violation of any law, rule, or regulation subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission to— (I) a person with supervisory authority over the whistleblower at the whistleblower’s employer, where such employer is an entity registered with or required to be registered with the Commission, a self-regulatory organization, or a State securities commission or office performing like functions; or (II) such other person working for the employer described under subclause (I) who has the authority to investigate, discover, or terminate misconduct. .

Passed the House of Representatives July 9, 2019. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.