WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION LEGISLATION proposed

[Guest guest]

http://www.whistleblowers.org/

 

CONGRESSMAN MARKEY INTRODUCES

WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION LEGISLATION

 

March 9, 2006. Washington, D.C. Congressman Edward Markey introduced a

bill today in the U.S. House of Representatives to “improve

whistleblower protections.” The proposed law, which is modeled on the

Sarbanes-Oxley corporate whistleblower statute and protects all federal

employees and contractors. In addition to reinstatement, it also permits

wrongfully terminated whistleblowers to collect back pay, compensatory

damages (which includes compensation for emotional distress and loss of

reputation), attorney fees, treble damages and punitive damages up to 5

million dollars.

 

Stephen M. Kohn, the Chairman of the National Whistleblower Center,

issue the following statement:

 

 

Congressman Markey’s legislation should be endorsed by every advocate

for whistleblower protection. For the first time federal employees and

contractors will have the same rights as private sector corporate

employees. The legislation closes the numerous loopholes in current

federal laws and permits whistleblowers to recover realistic damages. If

passed, for the first time in American history, millions of federal

employees and contractors will have adequate whistleblower protections.

Taxpayers will save billions of dollars from unethical contractors and

government employees will be able to realistically report waste, fraud

and abuse in all government agencies. Congressman Markey’s legislation

represents a most significant advancement in real government

accountability.

 

Proposed Legislation: Paul Revere Freedom to Warn Act

 

Markey’s Press Release:

http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=content & task=view & id=1301 & Itemid=125