A bill to enhance whistleblower protection for contractor and grantee employees.
PL 114-261 (S.795), enacted 12/14/2016

130 STAT. 1362 
PUBLIC LAW 114–261—DEC. 14, 2016 
Public Law 114–261 
114th Congress 
An Act 
To enhance whistleblower protection for contractor and grantee employees. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. ENHANCEMENT OF WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION FOR 
CONTRACTOR AND GRANTEE EMPLOYEES. 
(a) PROTECTION
FOR
EMPLOYEES
OF
GRANTEES
AND
SUB-
GRANTEES.— 
(1) DEFENSE GRANTS.—Section 2409(a)(1) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘or personal services 
contractor’’ after ‘‘subgrantee’’. 
(2) CIVILIAN GRANTS.—Section 4712(a)(1) of title 41, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘or grantee’’ and inserting 
‘‘grantee, or subgrantee or personal services contractor’’. 
(3) PERMANENT
EXTENSION
OF
PILOT
PROGRAM
FOR 
ENHANCEMENT OF CONTRACTOR PROTECTION FROM REPRISAL FOR 
DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN INFORMATION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Section 4712 of title 41, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(i) in the section heading by striking ‘‘Pilot pro-
gram for enhancement’’ and inserting ‘‘Enhance-
ment’’; and 
(ii) by striking subsection (i). 
(B) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of chapter 47 of title 41, United States Code, 
is amended by striking the item relating to section 4712 
and inserting the following new item: 
‘‘4712. Enhancement of contractor protection from reprisal for disclosure of certain 
information.’’. 
(b) PROHIBITION ON REIMBURSEMENT FOR LEGAL FEES ACCRUED 
IN DEFENSE AGAINST REPRISAL CLAIMS.— 
(1) DEFENSE
CONTRACTS.—Section 2324(k) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or subcontractor, or personal services 
contractor’’ after ‘‘contractor’’ each place it appears; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, subcontract, or personal services 
contract’’ after ‘‘contract’’ each place it appears; and 
(C) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or to any other 
activity described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of sec-
tion 2409(a)(1) of this title’’ after ‘‘statute or regulation’’. 
(2) CIVILIAN CONTRACTS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Section 4310 of title 41, United 
States Code, is amended— 
47 USC 
prec. 4701. 
Dec. 14, 2016 
[S. 795] 
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130 STAT. 1363 
PUBLIC LAW 114–261—DEC. 14, 2016 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 795: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 114–270 (Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016): 
June 23, considered and passed Senate. 
Dec. 5, considered and passed House. 
(i) by inserting ‘‘, subcontractor, or personal serv-
ices contractor’’ after ‘‘contractor’’ each place it appears; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, subcontract, or personal services 
contract’’ after ‘‘contract’’ each place it appears; and 
(iii) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ‘‘or to any 
other activity described in section 4712(a)(1) of this 
title’’ after ‘‘statute or regulation’’. 
(B) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 4304(a)(15) of 
title 41, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘or 
subcontractor, or personal service contractor’’ after ‘‘con-
tractor’’. 
(c) INCLUSION OF CONTRACT CLAUSE IN CONTRACTS AWARDED 
BEFORE EFFECTIVE DATE.—At the time of any major modification 
to a contract that was awarded before the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the head of the contracting agency shall make best 
efforts to include in the contract a contract clause providing for 
the applicability of the amendments made by this section and 
section 827 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2013 (Public Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 1833). 
Approved December 14, 2016. 
Applicability. 
10 USC 2324 
note. 
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