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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 3281 (108th)

Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act

reportedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

8 October 2003

Last action

29 September 2004 · Committee

Status

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Sponsors

Rep. Platts, Todd Russell [R-PA-19], Rep. Wolf, Frank R. [R-VA-10], Rep. Waxman, Henry A. [D-CA-33], Rep. McHugh, John M. [R-NY-23], Rep. Shays, Christopher [R-CT-4], Rep. Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [D-MD-2], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Tierney, John F. [D-MA-6], Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4], Rep. LaHood, Ray [R-IL-18], Rep. Boehlert, Sherwood [R-NY-24], Rep. Meehan, Martin T. [D-MA-5], Rep. Johnson, Nancy L. [R-CT-5], Rep. Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Rep. Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [D-OH-11], Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM], Rep. Gilchrest, Wayne T. [R-MD-1], Rep. Farr, Sam [D-CA-20], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Filner, Bob [D-CA-51], Rep. Paul, Ron [R-TX-14], Rep. Simmons, Rob [R-CT-2], Rep. Inslee, Jay [D-WA-1], Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9], Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9], Rep. Wexler, Robert [D-FL-19], Rep. Ehlers, Vernon J. [R-MI-3], Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4], Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3], Rep. Moore, Dennis [D-KS-3], Rep. McNulty, Michael R. [D-NY-23], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7], Rep. Miller, George [D-CA-11], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12], Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete [D-CA-13], Rep. Levin, Sander M. [D-MI-12], Rep. Duncan, John J., Jr. [R-TN-2], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2], Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28]

Subjects

Transport

Source updated

18 August 2025

Transport

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Summary

Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act - Amends Federal law to protect specified disclosures by Federal employees or applicants without restriction as to time, place, form, motive, context, or prior disclosure. Creates a rebuttable presumption regarding the performance of duty by employees with authority. Prohibits implementation or enforcement of nondisclosure documents absent a statement that the restrictions imposed are consistent with and do not supersede specified laws. Authorizes the Merit Systems Protection Board or any reviewing court to determine whether there was a violation of prohibited personnel practices in actions relating to security clearances and to provide specified relief. Authorizes the President to exclude agencies with certain intelligence functions from coverage under the whistleblower statute only if the exclusion decision, as it relates to a personnel action, is made before that personnel action. Includes compensatory damages in the list of authorized corrective actions the Board may impose. Authorizes the Board to impose a combination of discliplinary action and civil penalties. Permits representation by attorneys for the Office of the Special Counsel in specified civil actions. Authorizes the Office of Special Counsel to obtain judicial review of Board decisions. Allows petitions for review to be filed in any court of appeals of competent jurisdiction during the five-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act (restricted to the Federal Circuit thereafter). Lengthens the appeal period. Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to clarify that the disclosure of independently obtained critical infrastructure information is a protected disclosure.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 8 October 2003

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 8 October 2003

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 8 October 2003

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 29 September 2004

    Reported

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Source: Committee

  5. 29 September 2004

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 8 October 2003

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 8 October 2003

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 8 October 2003

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Sponsors

Related records

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Sources

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