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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 985 (110th)

Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

12 February 2007

Last action

6 June 2007 · Referred

Status

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia.

Sponsors

Rep. Waxman, Henry A. [D-CA-33], Rep. Platts, Todd Russell [R-PA-19], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Rep. Davis, Tom [R-VA-11], Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7], Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Watson, Diane E. [D-CA-33], Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5], Rep. Braley, Bruce L. [D-IA-1], Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3], Rep. Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO-1], Rep. Kanjorski, Paul E. [D-PA-11], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Shays, Christopher [R-CT-4], Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Miller, George [D-CA-11], Rep. Allen, Thomas H. [D-ME-1], Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5], Rep. Israel, Steve [D-NY-3], Rep. McHugh, John M. [R-NY-23], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13], Rep. Schwartz, Allyson Y. [D-PA-13], Rep. Ackerman, Gary L. [D-NY-5]

Subjects

Healthcare, Defence

Source updated

6 June 2025

Healthcare · Defence

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007 - Includes as a protected disclosure by a federal employee any lawful disclosure an employee or applicant reasonably believes is credible evidence of waste, abuse, gross mismanagement, or substantial and specific danger to public health or safety without restriction as to time, place, form, motive, context, or prior disclosure. Defines "disclosure" to mean a formal or informal communication, not including a communication concerning policy decisions that lawfully exercise discretionary authority unless the employee providing the disclosure reasonably believes that the disclosure evidences: (1) any violation of law; or (2) mismanagement, waste, abuse of authority, or a danger to the public. Codifies the legal standard for determining whether a whistleblower has a reasonable belief that a disclosure evidences governmental waste, fraud, or abuse, or a violation of law. Includes under the definition of: (1) "personnel action" the implementation or enforcement of any nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement; and (2) "prohibited personnel practice" implementing or enforcing any nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement not containing a statement that it is consistent with specified provisions governing disclosures and conducting an investigation of an employee or applicant because of any protected activity. Authorizes the President to exclude certain agencies engaged in the conduct of foreign intelligence or counterintelligence activities from whistleblower protections if such exclusion is made prior to any personnel action against the whistleblower. Expands the authority of the Merit Systems Protection Board to impose disciplinary action for prohibited personnel practices. Requires a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on security clearance revocations after 1996, claims in connection with such revocations, and resulting actions. Allows an employee, former employee, or applicant who seeks corrective action from the Merit Systems Protection Board with respect to an alleged prohibited personnel practice to bring action in federal district court for de novo review. Provides that an employee of a covered agency may not be discharged, demoted, or discriminated against as a reprisal for making a disclosure of covered information to an authorized Member of Congress, authorized executive official, or the Inspector General of the covered agency. Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) reprisal complaints; (2) determinations by the covered agency on whether the employee was subjected to a prohibited reprisal; and (3) re-initiation of procedures to restrict an employee's access to classified or sensitive information after a corrective action to restrict such access was voided. Entitles employees of executive agencies that are not covered agencies, for purposes of any disclosure of covered information which consists of classified or sensitive information, to the same protections, rights, and remedies under this Act as if those agencies were covered. Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 and Armed Forces procurement provisions to modify remedy and enforcement authority relating to the protection of contractor employees from reprisal for disclosure of certain information. Makes certain prohibited personnel practices provisions applicable to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Includes within the meaning of "abuse of authority": (1) actions that compromise the validity of federally funded research or analysis; and (2) the dissemination of false or misleading scientific, medical, or technical information.

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

Timeline

  1. 12 February 2007

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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

  2. 12 February 2007

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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

  3. 12 February 2007

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 12 February 2007

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 14 February 2007

    Vote

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 28 - 0.

    Source: Committee

  6. 14 February 2007

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  7. 9 March 2007

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 18.

    Source: Calendars

  8. 9 March 2007

    Discharge

    Committee on Armed Services discharged.

    Source: Discharge

  9. 9 March 2007

    Committee

    Committee on Armed Services discharged.

    Source: Committee

  10. 9 March 2007

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government. H. Rept. 110-42, Part I.

    Source: Committee

  11. 9 March 2007

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government. H. Rept. 110-42, Part I.

    Source: Committee

  12. 12 March 2007

    Committee

    Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Oversight and Government, H. Rept. 110-42, Part II.

    Source: Committee

  13. 12 March 2007

    Committee

    Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Oversight and Government, H. Rept. 110-42, Part II.

    Source: Committee

  14. 12 March 2007

    Passed

    PERMISSION TO FILE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT - Mr. Tierney asked unanimous consent that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform may have permission to file a supplemental report on H.R. 985. Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  15. 13 March 2007

    Reported

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 239 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 985 with 1 hour and 20 minutes of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived eexcept those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. An amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of the bill, modified by the amendments recommended by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform now printed in the bill, shall be considered as the original bill for the purpose of further amendment under the five-minute rule.

    Source: Floor

  16. 14 March 2007

    Floor

    The Speaker designated the Honorable Ed Pastor to act as Chairman of the Committee.

    Source: Floor

  17. 14 March 2007

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  18. 14 March 2007

    Vote

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 331 - 94 (Roll no. 153).

    Source: Floor

  19. 14 March 2007

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 331 - 94 (Roll no. 153).

    Source: Floor

  20. 14 March 2007

    Vote

    On motion to recommit with instructions Agreed to by recorded vote: 426 - 0 (Roll no. 152). (consideration: CR H2541-2542)

    Source: Floor

  21. 14 March 2007

    Floor

    The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H2541)

    Source: Floor

  22. 14 March 2007

    Floor

    Mr. Westmoreland moved to recommit with instructions to Oversight and Government. (consideration: CR H2540-2541; text: CR H2540)

    Source: Floor

  23. 14 March 2007

    Passed

    The House adopted the remaining amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

    Source: Floor

  24. 14 March 2007

    Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H2539)

    Source: Floor

  25. 14 March 2007

    Floor

    The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 985.

    Source: Floor

  26. 14 March 2007

    Floor

    House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 239 and Rule XVIII.

    Source: Floor

  27. 14 March 2007

    Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 985 with 1 hour and 20 minutes of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived eexcept those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. An amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of the bill, modified by the amendments recommended by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform now printed in the bill, shall be considered as the original bill for the purpose of further amendment under the five-minute rule.

    Source: Floor

  28. 14 March 2007

    Reported

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 239. (consideration: CR H2517-2543; text of measure as reported in House: CR H2527-2530)

    Source: Floor

  29. 14 March 2007

    Passed

    Rule H. Res. 239 passed House.

    Source: Floor

  30. 14 March 2007

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.

    Source: Committee

  31. 15 March 2007

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

    Source: IntroReferral

  32. 6 June 2007

    Referred

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs referred to Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

10 official files

Referred in Senate (text)

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  • Referred in Senate (text)

    Referred in Senate · EN · 15 March 2007

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  • Referred in Senate (PDF)

    Referred in Senate · EN · 15 March 2007

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  • Engrossed in House (text)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 14 March 2007

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  • Engrossed in House (PDF)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 14 March 2007

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  • Passed House amended

    summary · EN · 14 March 2007

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  • Reported in House (text)

    Reported in House · EN · 9 March 2007

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  • Reported in House (PDF)

    Reported in House · EN · 9 March 2007

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 12 February 2007

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 12 February 2007

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 12 February 2007

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Sources

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