Whistleblower Amendment Passes: Federal Workers Now Protected In House Stimulus Bill [View All]

[kpete]

Source: Web Wire

Whistleblower Amendment Passes: Federal Workers Now Protected In House Stimulus Bill
WEBWIRE – Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Contact Information
Lindsey M. Williams
Advocacy Director
National Whistleblowers Center
202 342-1903
[e-mail]



Washington, D.C., January 27, 2009. Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment to the stimulus bill to include whistleblower protection for federal employees. This amendment will strengthen efforts to detect and deter waste, fraud, and abuse.

Representatives Todd R. Platts (R-PA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) proposed the amendment to include the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (H.R. 985) from last session’s Congress in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1). On the floor of the House Speaker Pelosi personally endorsed this amendment quoting from the hundreds of organizations which have pushed for these reforms. The Speaker said, "With the adoption of the bipartisan Platts/Van Hollen Amenment... we have set a new standard of accountability and transparency by empowering federal employees to call attention to waste, fraud and abuse of tax dollars without fear of retaliation"


The Platts/Van Hollen amendment was passed with broad bi-partisan support by voice vote. Representative Todd R. Platts introduced the amendment stating that it is essential "to ensure effective oversight and accountability"

“The House scored a touchdown for whistleblowers,” said Stephen M. Kohn, the Executive Director of the National Whistleblowers Center.

Read more: http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=85783