Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. AUCHINCLOSS. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to the Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act.

Historically, there has been a double standard between Federal and corporate whistleblowers seeking reprieve for retaliatory actions taken against them. While corporate whistleblowers can have their day in court, Federal whistleblowers' cases fall only under the jurisdiction of the Merit Systems Protection Board. The Whistleblower Protection Improvement Act would remedy this by allowing certain Federal whistleblowers to file their claims in district court.

My amendment would ensure that we continue to make evidence-based improvements to the Federal whistleblower case review process by requiring the GAO to study the outcomes of this bill. Specifically, my amendment calls on the GAO to report on the timeliness of MSPB rulings and the rates of Federal whistleblowers opting for district court trials. It requires the GAO to offer recommendations for the MSPB to make improvements to its review process so that Federal whistleblowers who put their jobs, careers, and reputations on the line to call out wrongdoing are given the respect of a timely review.

This bill is critical to improving protections for Federal whistleblowers and enhancing accountability across the Federal Government. My amendment would ensure that we collect the evidence necessary to continue to make improvements.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendments en bloc.

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