Public Law 114–261: To enhance whistleblower protection for contractor and grantee employees.Public Law261Public Law 114–261130 Stat. 13622016-12-142016-12-14United States Government Publishing OfficeNational Archives and Records AdministrationOffice of the Federal Registertext/xmlENPursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.GPO Locator to USLM Converter 4.15.31;Stage2.202507022026-01-02114publicPUBLIC LAW 114–261—DEC. 14, 2016130 STAT. 1362Public Law114–261114th CongressAn ActTo enhance whistleblower protection for contractor and grantee employees.
Dec. 14, 2016
[S. 795]
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,SECTION 1. ENHANCEMENT OF WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION FOR CONTRACTOR AND GRANTEE EMPLOYEES.(a) Protection for Employees of Grantees and Subgrantees.—(1) Defense grants.—Section 2409(a)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting “or personal services contractor” after “subgrantee”.(2) Civilian grants.—Section 4712(a)(1) of title 41, United States Code, is amended by striking “or grantee” and inserting “grantee, or subgrantee or personal services contractor”.(3) Permanent extension of pilot program for enhancement of contractor protection from reprisal for disclosure of certain information.—(A) In general.—Section 4712 of title 41, United States Code, is amended—(i) in the section heading by striking “Pilot program for enhancement” and inserting “Enhancement”; and(ii) by striking subsection (i).(B) Clerical amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 47 of title 41, United States
47 USC
prec. 4701.
Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 4712 and inserting the following new item:“4712. (b) Prohibition on Reimbursement for Legal Fees Accrued in Defense Against Reprisal Claims.—(1) Defense contracts.—Section 2324(k) of title 10, United States Code, is amended—(A) by inserting “or subcontractor, or personal services contractor” after “contractor” each place it appears;(B) by inserting “, subcontract, or personal services contract” after “contract” each place it appears; and(C) in paragraph (1), by inserting “or to any other activity described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of section 2409(a)(1) of this title” after “statute or regulation”.(2) Civilian contracts.—(A) In general.—Section 4310 of title 41, United States Code, is amended—130 STAT. 1363(i) by inserting “, subcontractor, or personal services contractor” after “contractor” each place it appears;(ii) by inserting “, subcontract, or personal services contract” after “contract” each place it appears; and(iii) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting “or to any other activity described in section 4712(a)(1) of this title” after “statute or regulation”.(B) Conforming amendment.—Section 4304(a)(15) of title 41, United States Code, is amended by inserting “or subcontractor, or personal service contractor” after “contractor”.(c)
Applicability.
10 USC 2324 note.
Inclusion of Contract Clause in Contracts Awarded Before Effective Date.—At the time of any major modification to a contract that was awarded before the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of the contracting agency shall make best efforts to include in the contract a contract clause providing for the applicability of the amendments made by this section and section 827 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 1833).ApprovedDecember 14, 2016.LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 795:SENATE REPORTS: ┐No. 114–270 (Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016):