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United States · Law · S

S. 743 (112th)

Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

6 April 2011

Last action

27 November 2012 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 112-199.

Sponsors

Sen. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [ID-CT], Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI], Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE], Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT], Sen. Harkin, Tom [D-IA], Sen. Pryor, Mark L. [D-AR], Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA], Sen. McCaskill, Claire [D-MO], Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT], Sen. Begich, Mark [D-AK], Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

Subjects

Healthcare, Defence

Source updated

9 July 2026

Healthcare · Defence

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

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 that, during the five-year period beginning on the effective date of this Act, 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 be filed in any court of appeals of competent jurisdiction (rather than exclusively in the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals). 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. Extends 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. 6 April 2011

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2194-2201)

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 6 April 2011

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2194)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 6 April 2011

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 9 May 2011

    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

  5. 19 October 2011

    Reported

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

    Source: Committee

  6. 19 April 2012

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 358.

    Source: Calendars

  7. 19 April 2012

    Reported

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with amendments. With written report No. 112-155.

    Source: Committee

  8. 19 April 2012

    Reported

    Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Lieberman with amendments. With written report No. 112-155.

    Source: Committee

  9. 8 May 2012

    Passed

    Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2978-2985; text as passed Senate: CR S2978-2985)

    Source: Floor

  10. 8 May 2012

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S2978-2985; text as passed Senate: CR S2978-2985)

    Source: Floor

  11. 9 May 2012

    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

  12. 9 May 2012

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

  13. 9 May 2012

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  14. 14 June 2012

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management.

    Source: Committee

  15. 28 September 2012

    Passed

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

    Source: Floor

  16. 28 September 2012

    Passed

    On passage Passed without objection.

    Source: Floor

  17. 28 September 2012

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.

    Source: Floor

  18. 28 September 2012

    Floor

    Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H6286-6296; text as received in House: CR H6286-6293)

    Source: Floor

  19. 28 September 2012

    Discharge

    Committee on Oversight and Government discharged.

    Source: Discharge

  20. 28 September 2012

    Committee

    Committee on Oversight and Government discharged.

    Source: Committee

  21. 28 September 2012

    Floor

    RESERVATION OF OBJECTION - Mr. Van Hollen reserved the right to object to the unanimous consent request. Subsequently, the reservation was withdrawn.

    Source: Floor

  22. 28 September 2012

    Floor

    Mr. Lewis (CA) asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.

    Source: Floor

  23. 13 November 2012

    Passed

    Senate agreed to House amendment to the bill (S.743) by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6761; text as Senate agreed to House amendment: CR S6761)

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  24. 13 November 2012

    Passed

    Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to House amendment to the bill (S.743) by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S6761; text as Senate agreed to House amendment: CR S6761)

    Source: NotUsed

  25. 13 November 2012

    Floor

    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.

    Source: Floor

  26. 14 November 2012

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  27. 16 November 2012

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  28. 16 November 2012

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  29. 27 November 2012

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 112-199.

    Source: President

  30. 27 November 2012

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  31. 27 November 2012

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

19 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)

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  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 27 November 2012

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 27 November 2012

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  • Public Law

    summary · EN · 27 November 2012

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  • Engrossed Amendment House (text)

    Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 28 September 2012

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  • Engrossed Amendment House (PDF)

    Engrossed Amendment House · EN · 28 September 2012

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  • Passed House amended

    summary · EN · 28 September 2012

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  • Referred in House (text)

    Referred in House · EN · 9 May 2012

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  • Referred in House (PDF)

    Referred in House · EN · 9 May 2012

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  • Engrossed in Senate (text)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 8 May 2012

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  • Engrossed in Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 8 May 2012

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  • Passed Senate amended

    summary · EN · 8 May 2012

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  • Reported to Senate (text)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 19 April 2012

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  • Reported to Senate (PDF)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 19 April 2012

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  • Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

    summary · EN · 19 April 2012

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 6 April 2011

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  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 6 April 2011

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 6 April 2011

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