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Bush signs 9/11 bill, important whistleblower laws
Washington D.C. – August 3, 2007. Transportation
employee-whistleblowers were among the big winners in the
anti-terrorist legislation signed into law today by President George
Bush. As part of the “The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11
Commission Act of 2007,” Congress extended whistleblower protections to
commercial truck drivers, railroad employees and public transit
workers.
The whistleblower laws, contained in sections 1413, 1536, and 20109 of the Implementing
Recommendations Act, broadly protect surface transportation employees
who disclose safety violations, security threats and misuse of taxpayer
funds. The laws also provide protection for transportation workers who
testify before Congress or raise safety concerns to their managers.
Whistleblowers who suffer illegal retaliation may obtain reinstatement,
compensatory damages, attorney fees and up to $250,000.00 in punitive
damages. Employees must file their initial claims with the Department
of Labor, but can elect to have their claims tried before a jury of
their peers.
“The whistleblower provisions of the 9/11 bill represent a significant
advancement in the rights of employees in surface transportation
industries. It is crucial that whistleblowers have access to jury
trials and the ability to obtain damage awards when they have suffered
retaliation from an employer. Now, it is up to Congress to pass a law
that will protect all employees, in all sectors of our society, rather
than using the current piecemeal approach,” stated National
Whistleblowers Center President Stephen Kohn.
“Just as truck drivers and railroad workers who expose safety problems
need protection, so do other honest employees who expose taxpayer
rip-offs and safety threats. The whistleblower protections contained in
the Implementing Recommendations Act should serve as a model for badly
needed whistleblower reforms for other sectors of the economy,” Kohn
added.
The whistleblower provisions of the bill were championed by both Rep.
Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Homeland Security
Committee, and Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), a majority member of the
committee.
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