Senate unanimously passes Tester’s bipartisan whistleblower protection bill

Senator praises passage as a ‘victory for transparency’

(U.S. SENATE) – The U.S. Senate this week unanimously passed Senator Jon Tester’s bipartisan bill to protect federal employees who witness wrongdoing and report it to proper authorities.

Tester’s bill protects whistleblowers by providing mediators to hear employees’ complaints and allows for a jury trial if necessary.  The bill also extends existing whistleblower protections to employees of national security agencies and the Transportation Security Administration.

“Telling the truth should never be grounds for punishment, especially for folks who work for the federal government,” Tester said.  “Passing this bill is a victory for transparency that ensures that government employees who see waste, fraud and abuse in the workplace can safely report it.”

Tester’s bill now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Tester, a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, also sponsored a bill that strengthens whistleblower protections for employees of private businesses who contract with the federal government.  That bill unanimously passed the Committee in April.

Tester’s Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act, which prevents members of Congress from making personal financial gains from information they receive while in office, was recently signed into law.

Tester’s bipartisan Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act is available online HERE.

-30-