April 13, 2005   COMMITTEE APPROVES AKAKA-COLLINS WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION LEGISLATION   Washington, DC – The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today approved whistleblower protection legislation that was introduced by Senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Susan Collins (R-ME). The Federal Employee Protection of Disclosures Act strengthens protections for federal whistleblowers and encourages employees to come forward to disclose government waste, fraud, and abuse. “Congress has consistently supported the principle that federal employees should not be subject to prior restraint or punishment from disclosing wrongdoing. This should give federal workers the piece of mind that if they speak out, they will be protected,” said Senator Collins. “Full whistleblower protections will also help ensure that Congress and our Committee have access to the information necessary to conduct proper oversight.” The bipartisan legislation seeks to clarify congressional intent regarding the scope of protection provided to whistleblowers; provide for an independent determination as to whether a whistleblower was retaliated against by revoking his or her security clearance; establish a pilot program to suspend the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals’ monopoly on federal employee whistleblower cases for a period of five years; and provide the Office of Special Counsel, which is charged with representing the interests of federal whistleblowers, the authority to file amicus briefs with federal courts in support of whistleblowers. Senator Collins is the Chairman and Senator Akaka is a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Whistleblower Protection Act. Ranking Member Joseph Lieberan (D-CT) was also cosponsor of their bill. A bipartisan group of Senators support the legislation, including Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Charles Grassley (R-IA), who sponsored the 1989 Whistleblower Protection Act. The Committee approved the whistleblower legislation by voice vote. It must now be considered by the Senate.   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 April 2005 Press Releases   April 27 - SENATOR COLLINS CHAIRS HEARING TO EXAMINE SECURITY OF CHEMICAL FACILITIES, VULNERABILITY TO TERRORIST ATTACKS   April 25 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN ASK TSA TO CRACK DOWN ON WASTE AT TRANSPORTATION SECURITY OPERATIONS CENTER   April 21 - SENATE CONFIRMS NEW DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, SENATOR COLLINS ADDRESSES SENATE   April 21 - SENATOR COLLINS PRESSES MAINE PRIORITIES, CONNECTS MAINERS WITH U.S. CUSTOMS & BORDER OFFICIALS   April 21 - SENATOR COLLINS EMPHASIZES IMPORTANCE OF ELIMINATING FRAUD, WASTE & ABUSE IN FEDERAL PROGRAMS   April 21 - SENATORS COLLINS & CARPER STRESS COMMITMENT TO COMPREHENSIVE POSTAL REFORM   April 20 - SENATOR COLLINS INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN PORT SECURITY   April 18 - CHAIRMAN COLLINS CONTACTS DHS SECRETARY ABOUT PROPOSED PASSPORT RULES   April 14 - SENATOR COLLINS COMMENDS DC JUDGE FOR THREE DECADES OF SERVICE   April 14 - POSTAL SERVICE, TREASURY, OPM, GAO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR COMPREHENSIVE POSTAL REFORM LEGISLATION   April 14 - SENATOR COLLINS INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO GIVE D.C. MORE POWER OVER LOCAL BUDGET   April 13 - SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE APPROVES HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING FORUMLA LEGISLATION   April 13 - COMMITTEE REPORTS HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING FORMULA & WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION LEGISLATION TO SENATE   April 13 current Press Release   April 13 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN INVITE INPUT FROM SECRETARY CHERTOFF ON IAIP ROLE   April 8 - COLLINS, LIEBERMAN SEEK FACTS ABOUT RECENT ANTHRAX SCARE AT DOD
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510