Platts-Van Hollen Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2011

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

1 November 2011

Last action

1 October 2012 · Committee

Status

Committee on Intelligence (Permanent) discharged.

Summary

Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2011 - Expands the scope of whistleblower protections under federal law to provide that such protections shall apply to a disclosure of any violation of any law, rule, or regulation (currently, only to a violation of any law, rule, or regulation). Defines "disclosure" for purposes of this Act and expands the types of disclosures that are protected whistleblower disclosures. Includes as a prohibited personnel practice the implementation or enforcement of any nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement that does not contain a specific statement that its provisions are consistent with requirements that preserve the right of federal employees to make disclosures of illegality, waste, fraud, abuse, or public health or safety threats. Adds the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Reconnaissance Office to the list of intelligence community entities excluded from coverage under the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989. Revises the standard of proof in disciplinary proceedings against an agency employee who takes an adverse personnel action against a whistleblower to require the Office of Special Counsel to show that the whistleblower's protected disclosure was a significant motivating factor in the decision to take an adverse action, even if other factors also motivated the decision. Requires a petition to review a final order or decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) that raises no challenge to the MSPB's disposition of allegations of a prohibited personnel practice to be filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Extends whistleblower and other anti-discrimination protections to employees (and applicants for employment) of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Extends whistleblower protections to any current or prospective federal employee for disclosures that such employee reasonably believes are evidence of censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information. Establishes a two-year pilot program for the protection of employees of a contractor who make make certain whistleblower disclosures. Extemds whistleblower protections to intelligence community elements, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the National Reconnaissance Office. Requires federal agency heads to advise their employees on how to make a lawful disclosure of information that is required to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs. Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to: (1)  allow federal agency employees who intend to report a complaint or information with respect to an urgent concern to Congress to report such complaint or information to the Inspector General of their agencies, and (2) provide for the appointment of a Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman in the Office of Inspector General to educate agency personnel about whistleblower rights. Amends the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to require: (1) the development of policies and procedures that permit individuals who, in good faith, challenge a security clearance determination to remain employed while the challenge is pending; and (2) the development and implementation of uniform and consistent policies and procedures to ensure protections during the process for denying, suspending, or revoking a security clearance or access to classified information. Prohibits the revocation of a security clearance or access determination in retaliation for a protected whistleblower disclosure. Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to provide for the direct transmission of a complaint or information under the Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection Act to the Director of National Intelligence if the head of an establishment (i.e., cabinet level agency or department) determines that such complaint or information would create a conflict of interest for such head.

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

Timeline

1 November 2011
Introduced
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Intelligence (Permanent Select), and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Source: IntroReferral
1 November 2011
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
1 November 2011
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
3 November 2011
Vote
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 35 - 0.
Source: Committee
3 November 2011
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
15 November 2011
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management.
Source: Committee
30 May 2012
Introduced
House Committee on Intelligence (Permanent) Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Oct. 1, 2012.
Source: IntroReferral
30 May 2012
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 112-508, Part I.
Source: Committee
30 May 2012
Reported
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 112-508, Part I.
Source: Committee
1 October 2012
Discharge
Committee on Homeland Security discharged.
Source: Discharge
1 October 2012
Calendars
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 504.
Source: Calendars
1 October 2012
Committee
Committee on Homeland Security discharged.
Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Reported in House · 1 October 2012 · Download file
Introduced in House · 1 November 2011 · Download file

Documents

6 official files

Reported in House (text)

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Reported in House (text)
Reported in House · EN · 1 October 2012
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Reported in House (PDF)
Reported in House · EN · 1 October 2012
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Reported to House amended, Part I
summary · EN · 30 May 2012
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Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 1 November 2011
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Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 1 November 2011
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 1 November 2011
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Related records

related to ← Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3289
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/112/hr/3289
us · 112-hr-3289 · source updated 9 July 2026