Washington, DC - The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs favorably reported two measures sponsored by United States Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) during a committee business meeting today. The Federal Employee Protection of Disclosures Act (S. 2628), and the Homeland Security Geographic Information Act, offered as an amendment to S. 1230, a bill relating to homeland security geospatial information, were adopted by voice vote.
The Federal Employee Protection of Disclosures Act would make necessary amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) and other changes to strengthen the rights and protections of federal employees who come forward to disclose government waste, fraud, and abuse. Prompted by judicial decisions which have corrupted the intent of Congress to prevent whistleblower retaliation, Senator Akaka and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) reached a compromise that led the way to broad bipartisan support for legislative action among Republicans and Democrats on the Governmental Affairs Committee. S. 2628 is the resulting compromise legislation cosponsored by Senators Collins, Charles Grassley (R-IA), Carl Levin (D-MI), Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL),George Voinovich (R-OH), Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), and others, which would codify congressional intent, ensure an open and transparent process for the adjudication of employee whistleblower retaliation cases, strengthen the Office of Special Counsel, and ensure that Congress gets the information necessary to conduct its oversight and investigatory functions.
"I have been a long time proponent of strengthening the rights and protections of our federal whistleblowers. However, strengthening whistleblower protections is not simply an employee protection issue - it is a good government measure. If federal employees fear reprisal for telling the truth, then we not only fail to protect the whistleblower, but we fail to protect taxpayers and, in recent notable instances, national security as well," said Akaka. "This strong bipartisan legislation strikes the right balance in protecting both federal whistleblowers and our national security."
The Homeland Security Geographic Information Act will create the Office of Geospatial Management under the Chief Information Officer in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to better coordinate the procurement and management of geospatial information within DHS and centralize activities within one office. The amendment, which was adopted, is based on S. 2390, the Homeland Security Geospatial Information Act, which Senator Akaka introduced on May 6, 2004.
Geospatial technologies, such as satellite imagery and aerial photography, provide data that create the maps and charts that can help prevent a disaster from occurring or lessen the impact of an unforeseeable event by equipping first responders with up-to-date information. For example, in the event of a terrorist chemical attack, knowing which way a contaminated plume will travel can save lives. Similarly, the damage of a natural disaster, such as a wildfire, can be lessened by maps that help predict which areas will be in the path of the blaze.
"Coordination of geospatial information within DHS is critical to ensuring that those who are protecting our homeland have the best information possible," Akaka noted. "It will also reduce procurement redundancy and provide cost savings.
"Currently, the DHS Chief Information Officer is working to break down geospatial stove piping within the Department of Homeland Security by naming a Geospatial Information Officer. However, there is no single office in DHS officially responsible for geospatial management. In the present structure, the Geospatial Information Officer does not have the authority to compel the five DHS directorates to cooperate with his efforts. My amendment will help to remedy this problem."
Senator Collins and Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) are also cosponsors of the amendment.
