3.0.0 4639 2023-01-11T13:31:40Z 2023-01-11T13:31:40Z House HR 2016-02-26 114 [Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 31 (Friday, February 26, 2016)]From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]By Mr. BLUM:H.R. 4639.Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuantto the following:Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18[Page H1000]]]> ssga00 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Senate Standing Referred to 2016-07-13T17:12:22Z hsgo00 Oversight and Accountability Committee House Standing Reported by 2016-04-25T16:11:00Z Markup by 2016-03-01T22:03:31Z Referred to 2016-02-26T14:02:15Z H. Rept. 114-521 Bolster Accountability to Drive Government Efficiency and Reform Washington Act of 2016 114 3011 S 2016-06-06 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 505. Related bill CRS 2016-07-13 ssga00 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Senate Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. IntroReferral 2016-06-22 Senate Received in the Senate. IntroReferral 2016-06-21 15:24:09 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. Floor H38310 2 House floor actions 2016-06-21 15:24:07 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3990-3991) Floor H37300 2 House floor actions 2016-06-21 15:24:07 Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H3990-3991) Floor 8000 9 Library of Congress 2016-06-21 15:17:01 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4639. Floor H8D000 2 House floor actions 2016-06-21 15:17:00 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3990-3991) Floor H30000 2 House floor actions 2016-06-21 15:16:54 Mr. Blum moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. Floor H30300 2 House floor actions 2016-04-25 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 401. Calendars H12410 2 House floor actions U00401 2016-04-25 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 114-521. Committee H12200 2 House floor actions hsgo00 Oversight and Accountability Committee 2016-04-25 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 114-521. Committee 5000 9 Library of Congress hsgo00 Oversight and Accountability Committee 2016-03-01 hsgo00 Oversight and Accountability Committee 1 House committee actions Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. Committee 2016-03-01 hsgo00 Oversight and Accountability Committee 1 House committee actions Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. Committee 2016-02-26 Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. IntroReferral H11100 2 House floor actions hsgo00 Oversight and Accountability Committee 2016-02-26 Introduced in House IntroReferral Intro-H 9 Library of Congress 2016-02-26 Introduced in House IntroReferral 1000 9 Library of Congress B001294 Rep. Blum, Rod [R-IA-1] Rod Blum R IA 1 N M001187 Rep. Meadows, Mark [R-NC-11] Mark Meadows R NC 11 2016-02-26 True C001078 Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11] Gerald Connolly D VA E. 11 2016-02-29 False C000984 Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7] ELIJAH CUMMINGS D MD E. 7 2016-03-01 False 2016-04-11T22:05:00Z H.R. 4639, Thoroughly Investigating Retaliation Against Whistleblowers Act https://www.cbo.gov/publication/51458 As ordered reported by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on March 1, 2016 Government Operations and Politics Administrative law and regulatory procedures Administrative remedies Congressional oversight Employment discrimination and employee rights Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management Government studies and investigations Office of Special Counsel Government Operations and Politics 00 2016-02-26 Introduced in House 2016-03-30T22:09:18Z Thoroughly Investigating Retaliation Against Whistleblowers Act

This bill amends the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 to reauthorize through FY2020 the Office of Special Counsel (official appointed by the President to protect federal employees, former employees, and applicants for employment from prohibited personnel practices).

The Office of Special Counsel shall have access to any record or other information of any agency under its jurisdiction.

The bill: (1) extends from 15 to 45 days the period for the review by the Office of Special Counsel of a disclosed prohibited practice, (2) requires an agency to provide a detailed explanation of any failure to take action to address information about a prohibited practice transmitted to it by the Special Counsel, and (3) requires an agency that reports agency action proposed as a result of its investigation of such information to submit a supplemental report within 180 days on whether such proposed action has been taken and, if not, why not.

The Office of Special Counsel may terminate an investigation of a prohibited practice if: (1) it involves an allegation that has been previously made by the same person, (2) the Office does not have jurisdiction to investigate such allegation, or (3) the person should have known of the alleged prohibited personnel practice earlier than three years before the Special Counsel received the allegation.

The bill expands the annual reporting requirements of the Office of Special Counsel.

The Office of Special Counsel shall design and establish a survey pilot program in FY2017-FY2018 of individuals who have filed a complaint or disclosure with the Office.

Penalties for violations of the Hatch Act may include a combination of the disciplinary actions and the civil penalty prescribed under current law.

]]> 17 2016-04-25 Reported to House with amendment(s) 2016-06-13T14:48:40Z Thoroughly Investigating Retaliation Against Whistleblowers Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 to reauthorize through FY2020 the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency led by an official appointed by the President to protect federal employees, former employees, and applicants for employment from prohibited personnel practices.

(Sec. 3) The OSC shall have access to any record or other information of any agency under its jurisdiction.

(Sec. 4) The bill: (1) extends from 15 to 45 days the period for the OSC to review a disclosed prohibited practice; (2) requires an agency to provide a detailed explanation of any failure to take action to address information about a prohibited practice transmitted to it by the OSC; and (3) requires an agency that reports agency action proposed as a result of its investigation of such information to submit a supplemental report within 180 days on whether such proposed action has been taken and, if not, why not.

(Sec. 5) The OSC may terminate an investigation if: (1) it involves an allegation that has been previously made by the same person, (2) the OSC does not have jurisdiction to investigate such allegation, or (3) the person should have known of the alleged prohibited personnel practice earlier than three years before the OSC received the allegation.

(Sec. 6) The bill expands the OSC's annual reporting requirements to include: (1) the cost of allegations disposed of by the OSC; (2) the number of stays or disciplinary actions that the OSC negotiates with agencies; (3) the number of corrective action petitions and disciplinary action complaints initiated before, and stays obtained from, the Merit Systems Protection Board; and (4) the number of prohibited personnel practice complaints that result in a favorable action or outcome for the complainant.

The OSC must include in its publicly disclosed list of noncriminal matters referred to agencies: (1) any comments from the complainant, provided that the availability to the public is appropriate, not prohibited by law, and consented to by the complainant; and (2) the OSC's comments or recommendations.

(Sec. 7) The OSC shall design and establish a pilot program in FY2017-FY2018 to survey individuals who have filed a complaint or disclosure with the OSC. The responses shall be used to improve customer service at various stages of the review or investigative process.

(Sec. 8) Penalties for violations of Hatch Act prohibitions against engaging in political activities may include a combination of the disciplinary actions and the civil penalty prescribed under current law.

(Sec. 9) The OSC must prescribe and publish in the Federal Register any regulations necessary for the OSC to perform functions required by amendments made by this bill.

]]> 36 2016-06-21 Passed House amended 2016-08-02T21:31:11Z Thoroughly Investigating Retaliation Against Whistleblowers Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 to reauthorize through FY2020 the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency led by an official appointed by the President to protect federal employees, former employees, and applicants for employment from prohibited personnel practices.

(Sec. 3) The OSC shall have access to any record or other information of any agency under its jurisdiction. The Department of Justice (DOJ) or an inspector general may withhold access to information if the disclosure could interfere with an ongoing criminal investigation or prosecution, but only if DOJ or the agency head submits a report to the OSC describing the records withheld and the reasons for the withholding.

(Sec. 4) The bill: (1) extends from 15 to 45 days the period for the OSC to review a disclosed prohibited practice; (2) requires an agency to provide a detailed explanation of any failure to take action to address information about a prohibited practice transmitted to it by the OSC; and (3) requires an agency that reports agency action proposed as a result of its investigation of such information to submit a supplemental report within 180 days on whether such proposed action has been taken and, if not, why not.

(Sec. 5) The OSC may terminate an investigation if: (1) it involves an allegation that has been previously made by the same person, (2) the OSC does not have jurisdiction to investigate such allegation, or (3) the person should have known of the alleged prohibited personnel practice earlier than three years before the OSC received the allegation.

(Sec. 6) The bill expands the OSC's annual reporting requirements to include: (1) the cost of allegations disposed of by the OSC; (2) the number of stays or disciplinary actions that the OSC negotiates with agencies; (3) the number of corrective action petitions and disciplinary action complaints initiated before, and stays obtained from, the Merit Systems Protection Board; and (4) the number of prohibited personnel practice complaints that result in a favorable action or outcome for the complainant.

The OSC must include in its publicly disclosed list of noncriminal matters referred to agencies: (1) any comments from the complainant, provided that the availability to the public is appropriate, not prohibited by law, and consented to by the complainant; and (2) the OSC's comments or recommendations.

(Sec. 7) The OSC shall design and establish a pilot program in FY2017-FY2018 to survey individuals who have filed a complaint or disclosure with the OSC. The responses shall be used to improve customer service at various stages of the review or investigative process.

(Sec. 8) Penalties for violations of Hatch Act prohibitions against engaging in political activities may include a combination of the disciplinary actions and the civil penalty prescribed under current law.

(Sec. 9) The OSC must prescribe and publish in the Federal Register any regulations necessary for the OSC to perform functions required by amendments made by this bill.

]]> Thoroughly Investigating Retaliation Against Whistleblowers Act Display Title Thoroughly Investigating Retaliation Against Whistleblowers Act Official Title as Introduced To reauthorize the Office of Special Counsel, to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide modifications to authorities relating to the Office of Special Counsel, and for other purposes. Introduced in House IH Short Titles as Introduced Thoroughly Investigating Retaliation Against Whistleblowers Act Short Titles as Reported to House Thoroughly Investigating Retaliation Against Whistleblowers Act H House Short Titles as Passed House Thoroughly Investigating Retaliation Against Whistleblowers Act H House Referred in Senate 2016-07-13T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-114hr4639rfs/xml/BILLS-114hr4639rfs.xml Received in Senate 2016-06-22T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-114hr4639rds/xml/BILLS-114hr4639rds.xml Engrossed in House 2016-06-21T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-114hr4639eh/xml/BILLS-114hr4639eh.xml Reported in House 2016-04-25T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-114hr4639rh/xml/BILLS-114hr4639rh.xml Introduced in House 2016-02-26T05:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-114hr4639ih/xml/BILLS-114hr4639ih.xml 2016-07-13 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.