Washington, DC | July 24, 2019— Today, the United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution to designate July 30th, 2019 as “National Whistleblower Appreciation Day.” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced the bill on behalf of the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus, and it was co-sponsored by all members.
In addition, Sens. Grassley and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the chairman and vice chairman of the caucus, announced the addition of three new senators to the caucus’ ranks. The new members include Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), bringing total membership to fourteen senators.
This year, July 30th commemorates the 241st anniversary of America’s first whistleblower law, passed during the height of the Revolutionary War in 1778, and celebrates the contributions of whistleblowers to creating a more open and just society.
These resolutions call for the head of each federal executive agency to inform their employees, contractors, and the public about their legal right as a U.S. citizen to blow the whistle, as well as to acknowledge the contributions of whistleblowers in exposing fraud and corruption.
In the spirit of this resolution, the National Whistleblower Center has held an annual event since 2015 where lawmakers and public officials come together to honor whistleblowers and the risks they have taken to report and expose wrongdoing. This year, the Right Honorable Baroness Susan Kramer, a member of the British Parliament, and Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz are newly confirmed to speak. Both will offer testimonials to the critical contributions of whistleblowers.
Other prominent lawmakers and whistleblowers who will speak include:
- Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus, along with Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Sen. James Lankford (R-OK)
- Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), and Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) via video
- Whistleblowers Jane Turner (FBI), Sherron Watkins (Enron), Aaron Westrick (Second Chance Body Armor), Sheila White (Burlington Northern & Sante Fe Railway), and Gene Ross (Bear Stearns)
