Daniel Akaka: “today I am introducing amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act, WPA, that will strengthen protections for federal…”

“today I am introducing amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act, WPA, that will strengthen protections for federal employees who disclose waste, fraud, and abuse. I am proud to be joined by Senators Levin and Grassley, two of the Senate's leaders in protecting employees from retaliatory actions. The Senators from Michigan and Iowa were the primary sponsors of the original 1989 Act, as well as the 1994 amendments, both of which were passed unanimously by Congress. One of the basic obligations of public service is to disclose waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption to appropriate authorities. The WPA was intended to protect federal employees, those often closest to wrongdoing, from workplace retaliation as a result of making such disclosures. The right of federal employees to be free from workplace retaliation, however, has been diminished by a pattern of court rulings that have narrowly defined who qualifies as a whistleblower under the WPA, and what statements are considered protected disclosures. These rulings are inconsistent with congressional intent. There is little incentive for federal employees to come forward because doing so could put their careers at substantial risk. The bill we introduce today will restore congressional intent regarding who is entitled to relief under the WPA, and what disclosures are protected.”