United States · Bill · S
S. 508 (100th)
Whistleblower Protection Act of 1988
Introduced
5 February 1987
Last action
26 October 1988 · President
Status
Pocket Vetoed by President.
Sponsors
Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Chiles, Lawton [D-FL], Sen. Riegle, Donald W., Jr. [D-MI], Sen. Mitchell, George J. [D-ME], Sen. Heinz, John [R-PA], Sen. Cohen, William S. [R-ME], Sen. Sarbanes, Paul S. [D-MD], Sen. Burdick, Quentin N. [D-ND], Sen. Durenberger, Dave [R-MN], Sen. Wirth, Timothy [D-CO], Sen. Adams, Brock [D-WA], Sen. Gore, Albert, Jr. [D-TN], Sen. Matsunaga, Spark M. [D-HI], Sen. Moynihan, Daniel Patrick [D-NY], Sen. Karnes, David K. [R-NE], Sen. DeConcini, Dennis [D-AZ], Sen. Boren, David L. [D-OK], Sen. Nunn, Sam [D-GA], Sen. Pryor, David H. [D-AR], Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA], Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA], Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM]
Subjects
Discovery layer
Source updated
14 January 2025
Summary
Whistleblower Protection Act of 1987 - Separates the Office of Special Counsel from the Merit Systems Protection Board. Empowers the Special Counsel to represent and act as legal counsel on behalf of employees alleging prohibited personnel practices, especially whistleblowers. Revises current law with respect to the Special Counsel to reflect its advocate status. Authorizes the Special Counsel to file a petition to the Board against an official for: (1) engaging in prohibited personnel practices; (2) violating a law within the jurisdiction of the Special Counsel; or (3) failing to comply with an order of the Board. Sets forth disciplinary actions for such officials. Requires the Special Counsel to report annually to the Congress on its activities. Authorizes employees who have been adversely affected by a prohibited personnel practice to bring an action before the Board (instead of or in addition to taking such action to the Special Counsel). Authorizes such employees to obtain judicial review of the Board's decision in the appropriate court of appeals. Prohibits reprisals against an employee for disclosing information to the Inspector General of an agency or to the Special Counsel, or for failing to follow orders to disobey a law. Subjects the Tennessee Valley Authority to prohibited personnel practices provisions. Authorizes appropriations for the Merit Systems Protection Board for FY 1988 through 1992 and for the Office of Special Counsel for FY 1988 through 1990.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
5 February 1987
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Source: IntroReferral
5 February 1987
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
5 March 1987
Referred
Referred to Subcommittee on Federal Services, Post Office.
Source: Committee
20 July 1987
Committee
Subcommittee on Federal Services, Post Office. Hearings held.
Source: Committee
31 July 1987
Committee
Subcommittee on Federal Services, Post Office. Hearings held.
Source: Committee
19 May 1988
Reported
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Source: Committee
6 July 1988
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 782.
Source: Calendars
6 July 1988
Reported
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Glenn with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 100-413.
Source: Committee
6 July 1988
Reported
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Glenn with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 100-413.
Source: Committee
2 August 1988
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Source: Floor
2 August 1988
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
8 August 1988
Introduced
Referred to House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service.
Source: IntroReferral
8 August 1988
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
3 October 1988
Floor
Called up by House Under Suspension of Rules.
Source: Floor
4 October 1988
Floor
Message on House action received in Senate and held at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
Source: Floor
4 October 1988
Vote
Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 418 - 0 (Record Vote No: 397).
Source: Floor
4 October 1988
Vote
Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 418 - 0 (Record Vote No: 397).
Source: Floor
7 October 1988
Passed
Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: ResolvingDifferences
7 October 1988
Passed
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: NotUsed
12 October 1988
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
13 October 1988
Floor
Measure Signed in Senate.
Source: Floor
14 October 1988
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
14 October 1988
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
26 October 1988
President
Pocket Vetoed by President.
Source: President
26 October 1988
President
Pocket Vetoed by President.
Source: President
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.
Documents
4 official files
Leesvertaling
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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 4 October 1988
Passed Senate amended
summary · EN · 2 August 1988
Leesvertaling
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Reported to Senate with amendment(s)
summary · EN · 6 July 1988
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Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 5 February 1987
Leesvertaling
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Sponsors
- Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Chiles, Lawton [D-FL] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Riegle, Donald W., Jr. [D-MI] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Mitchell, George J. [D-ME] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Heinz, John [R-PA] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Cohen, William S. [R-ME] · R · Sponsor
- Sen. Sarbanes, Paul S. [D-MD] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Burdick, Quentin N. [D-ND] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Durenberger, Dave [R-MN] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. Wirth, Timothy [D-CO] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Adams, Brock [D-WA] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Gore, Albert, Jr. [D-TN] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Matsunaga, Spark M. [D-HI] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Moynihan, Daniel Patrick [D-NY] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Karnes, David K. [R-NE] · R · Cosponsor
- Sen. DeConcini, Dennis [D-AZ] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Boren, David L. [D-OK] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Nunn, Sam [D-GA] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Pryor, David H. [D-AR] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA] · D · Cosponsor
- Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM] · D · Cosponsor
- · hspo00 · Standing
- · ssga00 · Standing
Related records
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/100th-congress/senate-bill/508
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/100/s/508
- us · 100-s-508 · source updated 14 January 2025