WASHINGTON, DC - During a news conference today, lawmakers announced landmark whistleblower protection legislation for federal workers and contractors. The legislation authored by Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Edward Markey (D-MA) in the House (H.R. 4925) and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) in the Senate will give protection for whistleblowers who risk their careers to stand up for the American people.

The lawmakers were joined by a number of government whistleblowers from the C.I.A., the Air Force and the FAA, as well as representatives from several organizations working to strengthen the laws to protect whistleblowers.

"Whistleblowers are true patriots, not enemies of the state," said Rep. Maloney. "The American people should know when their government is working for them and when it isn't. They should know when an administration is concealing something not to protect the country, but to protect its political standing. Whistleblowers are often the only way these systemic problems are uncovered.

"Important personnel like the baggage screeners at our airports and the workers at our ports have no protection if they want to speak up about holes in our security. This is especially concerning for us in New York City - terrorist target number one. The current laws don't work for whistleblowers, and we need to change that."

"Whistlebowers should be protected under the law; however, the Bush administration seeks time and again to punish them for speaking out. Those who uncover waste, fraud and abuse should not be fired - they should be applauded," said Senator Lautenberg.

"Congress has given employees of Enron or WorldCom who reported accounting fraud better whistleblower protections than we give FBI employees, TSA baggage screeners, or port employees who report serious risks to homeland and national security," said Rep. Markey. "Whistleblowers are modern-day Paul Reveres. When they voice concerns over our nation's national security, we should listen to them, not silence them."

This legislation would, for the first time, expand whistleblower protections to national security employees and federal contractors by empowering whistleblowers to pursue their case in court instead of having to go through the cumbersome federal bureaucracy. It would make the worst cases of whistleblower retaliation criminal offenses, and would hold those who engage in prohibited personnel practices civilly liable. The bill will also provide protection from frivolous government claims of state secrets, such as when the government asserts that a whistleblower’s date of birth is a state secret.

###