House Overwhelmingly Approves Whistleblower Enhancement Act Senate Action Needed to Finish the Job

Washington, D,C. - March 14, 2007. Today, by a vote of 331 to 94, The House of Representatives passed the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (H.R. 985). The Enhancement Act is the first major reform of federal whistleblower laws in 18 years, and cures numerous weaknesses in existing legislation. The Enhancement Act will:

• For the first time, provide most federal employees with a right to have their claims heard in federal court;
• Protect most federal employees who expose waste fraud and corruption through their chain of command;
• Provide a new remedy for federal contractors who expose fraud on the taxpayers
  

Stephen Kohn, the President of the National Whistleblowers Center, issued the following statement regarding the passage of H.R. 985:

“This is a historic victory for oversight and accountability. For the first time in 18 years, Congress is getting serious about protecting Federal employee-whistleblowers. The House has taken the first step in passing Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (H.R. 985) (Link to ) It is now up to the Senate to get the job done. We fully expect that at the end of the day Congress will pass, and the President will sign, effective whistleblower protections; we will accept nothing less."

• See how your Representative voted: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/index.asp
• Floor Statement of Elijah E. Cummings