They do not at the Merit Systems Protection Board right now.

I think the important change that we are seeing is this is the first Administration that I think is, first of all, not threatening to veto this legislation.

I understand that the Administration is committed to transparency, but we must ensure that this Board makes fair decisions.

This was the policy that the President campaigned on, and we have not heard a reason, a public policy basis to back off of that commitment.

I want to thank all of our witnesses. You have helped us to really think through the key concerns for finalizing this bill.

Ms. Brian, under the WPA, agencies are required to inform their employees of their whistleblower rights.

It is not sending a very good message to them that we are serious about whistleblower protection if we give them second-class due process compared to the rest of the labor force.

We are in a period of unprecedented government spending, crises in terms of civil liberties, human rights abroad, as well as our economy that will require our government to be at its best.

I want to thank Senator Collins, the lead Republican cosponsor of S. 372, and Members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee who are cosponsors, including my good friend Senator Voinovich.

I should also add that many of them have some good ideas that can improve government operations.

This issue is a priority for me, and I am optimistic that finally we will enact protections for whistleblowers this year.