The Project on Government Oversight

Government employees help to protect the public's interest every day by blowing the whistle on fraudulent contractors, safety violations, national security threats, defective consumer products, and more.  Yet many whistleblowers do not speak up because they face the threat of retaliation from their agency.   

Last year, Congress took an important step toward restoring whistleblower rights by advancing a vital piece of legislation that will protect whistleblowers from retaliation.  Both the House and Senate passed the bill by a veto-proof majority.  Now, it is up to Congress to finish the job by reconciling the House and Senate versions, and sending a finalized bill to the president for his signature. 

Unfortunately, every day that passes without a finalized version of the bill has very tangible consequences for scores of whistleblowers who still lack viable legal rights.  Tell your members of Congress that you support enhanced protections for government employees who blow the whistle on waste, fraud, and abuse.  Please take a moment to personalize and sign the letter below:

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am urging you to support an effort underway to finalize legislation to give whistleblower protections to federal employees and government contractors. The legislation is one of the most important common sense ways to ensure that the federal government is honest, open, and accountable.

In doing so, I am joining organizations representing millions of Americans across the political spectrum who have also endorsed the legislation. The Senate and the House have both passed bills by a veto-proof majority, but the bills must be reconciled.

I believe the House's "Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007" (H.R. 985) offers stronger protections than the Senate's bill (S. 274). It closes important loopholes by expanding protection to national security workers in the FBI and other intelligence agencies, government contractors, and almost 40,000 airport baggage screeners. It also has a specific provision to protect scientists, making it illegal to censor or alter the results of federal research. For these and other whistleblowers, the right to due process will be provided, including jury trials when they face retribution from co-workers or employers. Even if disclosures are made during official duties, employees should have meaningful protection.

I am discouraged that we are still waiting for you and your colleagues to reconcile the two bills and enact this critical legislation. I urge you to put politics aside in order to finalize and pass the strongest bill possible to protect whistleblowers who expose government waste, fraud, and abuse.

Thank you for listening to a constituent. I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
June 05, 2008