1.Short title; table of
contents
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Private Sector Whistleblower
Protection Streamlining Act of 2012
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Title I—Private Sector Employment Whistleblower
Protections
Sec. 101. Definitions.
Sec. 102. Protection against retaliation or
discrimination.
Sec. 103. Enforcement.
Sec. 104. Restrictions on whistleblowing prohibited;
confidentiality of whistleblower.
Sec. 105. Nonpreemption.
Sec. 106. Effective date and rules.
Title II—Whistleblower Protection Office
Sec. 201. Establishment.
Sec. 202. Other private sector whistleblower
protections.
Sec. 203. Duties, powers, and functions.
Title III—Conforming Amendments
Sec. 301. Occupational Safety and Health Act of
1970.
Sec. 302. Federal Mine Safety and Health Act.
Sec. 303. Amendment to title 18 provisions related to the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Sec. 304. Energy Reorganization Act of 1974.
Title IV—Administrative Review Board
Sec. 401. Administrative Review Board.
<enum>I</enum><header>Private Sector
Employment Whistleblower Protections</header>
<section id="HD0D2F403FB9A4694B6438518BE2494CC"><enum>101.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">As used in this title, the following
definitions apply:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H0C463E69AB89478DB365FC8397FE5552"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Applicable
law</header>
<subparagraph id="HACCF65180E3648468ECAF2365FC5653A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to
<internal-xref idref="H99ABFFC48D334B7DA0C6429C02BE77A3" legis-path="101.(1)(B)">subparagraph (B)</internal-xref>, the term
<term>applicable law</term> means any Federal law, rule, regulation, or
Executive order, or a law, rule or regulation of a State or political
subdivision of a State implementing any Federal law, rule or regulation,
relating to—</text>
<clause id="HF66656FC9E184EC59FA17CE9EEA16AEC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>health and health
care;</text>
</clause><clause id="HF586D8CEE13F4B9CB2E30B87E3608A29"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>environmental
protection and resource management;</text>
</clause><clause id="H8D2C25DBA6074E328A635917864C55A2"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">food and drug safety (including relating to
the production, manufacturing, and product safety of pharmaceuticals, medical
devices, and agricultural products);</text>
</clause><clause id="H08BD8670777D4A22A74A596A068E8567"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">transportation (including maritime);</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="HEC422E183E204905818A19F0CBC15BFF"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">working conditions and benefits (including
social insurance such as workers compensation and unemployment
insurance);</text>
</clause><clause id="HFC4942F38E934E938F2F4919543FC33C"><enum>(vi)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">building and construction-related
requirements, including safety requirements, structural and engineering
standards, and building codes;</text>
</clause><clause id="HAED62297EC7C41789463478E4376564B"><enum>(vii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">energy production, transportation, storage,
security, safety, and use (including operations on the outer Continental Shelf
(as defined in section 2 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C.
1331)));</text>
</clause><clause id="H1E609984990844EF8C2D820B1905A3DA"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>homeland
security;</text>
</clause><clause id="H0262A50B9ECE4409AB0A66E543D01F4A"><enum>(ix)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">financial services (including banking,
insurance, accounting, commodities, and securities);</text>
</clause><clause id="HB4E0E2BA9F12469BBF70B1B49A327E42"><enum>(x)</enum><text>consumer
protection (including consumer product safety);</text>
</clause><clause id="H9882E278FDC045EF8516428C3D884C7B"><enum>(xi)</enum><text>education;</text>
</clause><clause id="HD1C55AB98E8D4E19845D17A0A87A887A"><enum>(xii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">antitrust, copyright, or patent;</text>
</clause><clause id="HC7252D8329EB47A49C5AF8364A63C034"><enum>(xiii)</enum><text>transactions
involving the Federal Government or use of Federal funds for grants, contracts,
cooperative agreements, or program payments (including laws pertaining to
fraud, waste, or abuse);</text>
</clause><clause id="HBA27C43AF4A84FBBA6C1B4CE9F7AD3DA"><enum>(xiv)</enum><text>the assessment,
collection, or any other action regarding royalties, customs duties, tariffs,
taxes, or any other sources of revenue due the Federal Government or its
entities; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H2E2804E83FD2494EB8949AE6DF08743E"><enum>(xv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">communications and
telecommunications.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H99ABFFC48D334B7DA0C6429C02BE77A3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exceptions and
exclusions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding
<internal-xref idref="HACCF65180E3648468ECAF2365FC5653A" legis-path="101.(1)(A)">subparagraph (A)</internal-xref>, the following Federal
laws, rules, and regulations shall not be considered applicable laws for
purposes of this Act:</text>
<clause id="HE086FCB6D70E455381728420F8074A06"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Civil rights laws administered by the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission that provide anti-retaliation protections for
employees exercising their rights under such laws.</text>
</clause><clause id="H46F7494121DC422DB7C443FD4DAE4E83"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whistleblower Protection Act (5 U.S.C. 1201
note) and laws administered by the Merit Systems Protection Board.</text>
</clause><clause id="H5FCD092F307C453AA436DAA10634CE9F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Federal laws, rules, or regulations that
provide employees with the following minimum anti-retaliation
protections:</text>
<subclause id="H758503D14E214C1B8A7651729B8A5006"><enum>(I)</enum><text>At least 180 days
to file a complaint.</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HC0352917E4974AB487B4B1956A6109E5"><enum>(II)</enum><text>A right to
investigation and adjudication by an independent hearing officer, and an appeal
to either an administrative or judicial body.</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H504B8D982CE74C7A8327F3B23C84FB9A"><enum>(III)</enum><text>A right to a
decision within 365 days of filing a complaint.</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H304A731D25BC4C7BA05FA72F964C36E9"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>A right to remove
to Federal or State court any complaint that has not received a decision after
210 days from the filing of such complaint.</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H3AB435DC74634C349265AE2C199C3A3E"><enum>(V)</enum><text>A
right to appropriate relief, including injunctive relief, compensatory and
exemplary damages, attorneys and experts fees, and costs.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HC1B82DB9A66B4CACACD01F7E71BCEF16"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Employee</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>employee</term>
means—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE9C12E0A3C13452681CECCDDEE9BF637"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any person
receiving compensation from or whose employment is subject to the control of an
employer, being considered for employment by the employer, or previously
employed by an employer, including any person working as an associate;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H188C3C0603414B8888AD70E1B43A832D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a person employed
on a temporary or part-time basis;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBD5D2A1B5FEC486B81A3BADB306F751A"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a person employed
by a contractor or subcontractor of an employer; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H57D27B83B85B480F8EE32B6CC69FED42"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a member of a
professional membership organization or other professional body (including
professional with institutional privileges or appointments to an
organization).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HD45787C3B10246D9AF73C73CD8B1153D"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Employer</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>employer</term> means one or
more individuals, partnerships, associations, corporations, legal
representatives, mutual companies, joint-stock companies, trusts,
unincorporated organizations, nongovernmental organizations, trustees,
professional membership organizations (including a certification, disciplinary,
or other professional body), including the agents of the employer or a person
acting directly or indirectly in the interests of the employer, engaged in for
profit or nonprofit business affecting commerce, including any subsidiaries,
affiliates, and foreign operations of any business that are subject to
applicable law, any entity of a State government or political subdivision of a
State, or any nongovernmental organization, and any contractor or subcontractor
of another employer.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA2EA29FC631A4647AEA1D09852353EE2"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Manager</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>manager</term> means any
person who has direct, implied, apparent authority over the work performance of
an employee, or other supervisory relationship, directly or indirectly through
subordinates, or a person who has the direct, implied, or apparent authority to
recommend or to take corrective action regarding the activities or policies of
the employer or to remedy a violation of an applicable law.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6E13EDAA225B41C392A6C23733B3FBD5"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Media</header><text>The
term <term>media</term> includes a member of the print, radio, television, or
internet media.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H80243898BC974E868575574104D0E394"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Protected
information</header><text>The term <term>protected information</term> means any
information that an employee reasonably believes evidences—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H08013B41841E437BA3C4111F6E0148A2"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a violation or the intent to commit a
violation by the employer of an applicable law;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HA9F478428D434D71AE5849F36C824448"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a hazard or potential danger to the health
or safety of any employee or to the public, including any injury or illness;
or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HD5A828E3A96F4C50B2A18832E680F00A"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">fraud on the part of the employer in
connection with the implementation of or compliance with an applicable law or a
standard of practice established by a professional standards setting
body.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4E296B4E86AE4282A1B4505D346927D2"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Public
body</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>public
body</term> means Congress, any State legislature or popularly elected local
government body, any Federal, State or local regulatory, administrative, or
public agency, authority, or instrumentality or combination thereof, any
Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency, prosecutorial office, or
police or peace officer, any Federal, State or local court or other
adjudicative body, or any division, board, bureau, office, committee, or
commission of any such public bodies, or any organization or credentialing body
that establishes or enforces standards of professional conduct.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFBA65878FBC541889C98CB9C12FF20E3"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Reasonable cause
to believe</header><text>The term <term>reasonable cause to believe</term>,
when used with respect to a temporary reinstatement of a complaint, means that
a claim in the complaint appears to have merit.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H1FB47C6489C1469FBAB6B483FCA96294"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Reasonably
believes</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term
<term>reasonably believes</term>, when used with respect to information that
may be protected information, means that a disinterested observer with a
similar level of education, skill, and experience and with knowledge of the
essential facts known to or readily ascertained by an employee could conclude
that such information is protected information.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAD0DD98116C9420CACCD504020D6049C"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The
term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Labor.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HE5561395A2AF43348F1FCCB66CF897E9"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Unfavorable
personnel action</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term
<term>unfavorable personnel action</term> means any action or inaction, whether
taken, recommended, or threatened, directly or indirectly unfavorable to an
employee, or the parent, sibling, spouse, or child of an employee, by any
employer, including the current employer of the employee, including
termination, performance appraisal or action, discipline, reduction in pay or
benefits, transfer, reassignment, demotion, withholding of training or other
advancement opportunities, removal of resources, the denial, suspension, or
revocation of a security clearance, investigation, peer review, law enforcement
referral, or prosecution, filing criminal or civil charges, change in seniority
rights, denial of advancement, denial of contract, revocation of security
credentials, blacklisting, listing on a practitioner databank, violence or
other physical action, any other discrimination or other action that negatively
affects the terms or conditions, or privileges of employment of such employee,
or any other conduct that would dissuade a reasonable person from engaging in
activities protected by this title.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H5A2340F895B744D8831DC77B73CAFF5B"><enum>102.</enum><header>Protection
against retaliation or discrimination</header>
<subsection id="H800B21089ACE43F5812093B90480873B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No employer shall
take any unfavorable personnel action against an employee if such action is
due, in whole or in part, to any lawful act done, perceived to have been done,
or intended to be done by the employee to—</text>
<paragraph id="HF69A07387F94477B87B27DF7A603AF9A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">communicate or disclose, without
restriction as to place, form, motive, context, forum, or prior disclosure,
including disclosure in the ordinary course of the employee’s duties, to an
employer or manager, public body, or the media, or to the public, any protected
information, where disclosure is not specifically prohibited by law or because
such information is classified, in which case the information may be disclosed
to an official eligible by law to receive such information and designated by
the employer, or to a relevant regulatory authority, law enforcement agency, or
Inspector General;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H26834374EA6841408EC6CFC2A0168598"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">take action to initiate, testify,
cooperate, or otherwise assist or participate in an investigation or proceeding
by a public body, or any proceeding authorized by applicable law, or take
action indicating that the employee is about to testify, cooperate, or
otherwise assist such an investigation or proceeding;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD0AE4F5476EE41C0A26346F0023C64D1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">object to or refuse to participate in any
activity, policy, practice, or assigned task which the employee reasonably
believes is or would be in violation of an applicable law or endangers the
safety or health of the employee or others;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7455CE70C10946AA9551C8446F28A56B"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">inform or discuss with co-workers of the
employee, experts or corroborating witnesses, a representative of the employee,
a safety and health or similar workplace committee, or a family member of the
employee, any protected information, where disclosure is not prohibited by law
or because it is classified; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H63425DD20BA2406AB5E568A6C1AB528B"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">otherwise avail the employee of the rights
set forth in this title or other applicable law, or assist another employee in
asserting the rights available under this title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HCB3AC032C5714D55B53DFE0BC7924BC9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Broad
construction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It is the sense
of Congress that the provisions of this section and section 101 should be
construed broadly to maximize this Act’s remedial objectives.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HF3DA281222A74C0EB54D73388ADAE182"><enum>103.</enum><header>Enforcement</header>
<subsection id="H7F34CD5DDF324B08A8E401C3B8E1FEFD"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Complaint</header>
<paragraph id="H02B5C6FF1444449DB3F90417F46ECD44"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), an employee who believes that
he or she has been subjected to an unfavorable personnel action by his or her
employer in violation of section 102(a) may seek the relief described in this
section by filing a complaint with the Secretary as described in subsection (b)
not later than 180 days after the later of—</text>
<subparagraph id="H75AC943A178641CE9396DFDD80A43120"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the date on which
such violation occurs, or in the case of a violation that is a repeated
violation, the last date on which such violation occurs; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H07A37EF6F90746A8A55B2233D9B1D241"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the date on which the employee knows or
should reasonably have known that such violation occurred, or in the case of a
violation that is a repeated violation, the last date on which the employee
knows or should reasonably have known that such violation occurred.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H389836E905A948A787F2CD4A0B0C7E42"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Deadline
exceptions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding
paragraph (1), a complaint filed after the filing deadlines set forth in such
paragraph shall not deny the Secretary, administrative law judge, or review
board, as applicable, jurisdiction of such complaint. The filing deadlines set
forth in paragraph (1) may be tolled by mutual agreement between the employee
seeking to file a complaint under this section and that employee’s
employer.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H92260A3F3A71403F89625E68CCFA6AD0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Department of
Labor complaint procedure</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
Secretary shall establish appropriate procedures to ensure complaints under
this section are processed efficiently, which shall provide for the
following:</text>
<paragraph id="H561F53AEC1264847990F121E929E1B07"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Notification of
public body</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon determining
that the allegations made in a complaint under this section are credible and
prior to notifying an employer of the complaint, the Secretary shall—</text>
<subparagraph id="H7777D5C53CC4463B9F74F800C5801362"><enum>(A)</enum><text>notify the
appropriate public body having jurisdiction over the violations of applicable
law raised in the complaint; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H64CAB4ECAEE14744AB4486B8B753B06A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>if appropriate,
coordinate with the appropriate public body having jurisdiction regarding an
enforcement inspection.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H58FF8E88AA8D4FBFA295145C1228CF4C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Election of
procedure; exclusion</header>
<subparagraph id="H7C0F88A1DFF444B99F7CFAF952C585F1"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Information to
Complainant</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon receipt of a
complaint under this section, the Secretary shall inform the complainant (or
any legal counsel retained by complainant) of any authority that the Secretary
has that may be applicable to the complainant’s situation.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFD57841C0A8B40EF8B305F3A918077A7"><enum>(B)</enum><header> Efficiency of
Proceedings</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary
shall establish procedures to prevent duplicative investigations actions
brought under this title and any provision of law listed in section 202. Such
procedures shall not limit a complainant’s ability to bring a complaint under
authorities covering conduct not protected under this title, nor a
complainant's right to proceed under any authority providing greater coverage,
due process protections, statute of limitations, or remedies.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA98F4171EEED4EF484DD42E81E73155A"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Amendments to
complaints</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary
shall establish rules and procedures to allow complainants to amend their
complaints, which shall extend the period of time for the Secretary to issue a
decision as necessary.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H183DE1D5DD2749979DBB835557C86FF7"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Decision to
investigate or dismiss complaint</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall, based on the criteria
set forth in paragraph (d)(1), either—</text>
<subparagraph id="HFF027605026149C4B78900971B59A5EF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>make a decision to
investigate the complaint under paragraph (5); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA41F04265F2F475F909CC68315615749"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">make a final decision to dismiss the
complaint and inform the complainant of his or her right to request a hearing
under subparagraph (7) and the process for filing such a request.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H9D679645EAD44492ACF90988A9127F75"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Temporary relief
during investigation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
Secretary shall, upon request of a complainant, determine, for the purposes of
issuing a temporary reinstatement order described in this paragraph, whether
there is reasonable cause to believe that the complainant’s complaint makes a
prima facie showing that any conduct described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of
section 102(a) was a contributing factor in the unfavorable personnel action
alleged in the complaint. If the Secretary determines that there is reasonable
cause to believe that the complaint makes a prima facie showing, the Secretary
shall issue a temporary reinstatement order for the complainant while the
Secretary is conducting an investigation pursuant to paragraph (5). If a
hearing is not requested as provided for in paragraph (7), such order shall be
deemed a final order that is not subject to judicial review during the pendency
of the complainant’s administrative or judicial investigation, hearing, or
appeal. Upon a determination by the Secretary that the respondent is not liable
for retaliation under this title, such reinstatement shall end.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA39F4496550F4EFDA50AF5DFE61DC982"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Investigation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall investigate any
complaint not dismissed under paragraph (3). Before dismissing such a complaint
based on the inadequacy of the complaint, the Secretary shall make a good faith
effort to interview the complainant to determine whether he or she has a claim.
The Secretary shall afford the employer (in this subsection referred to as the
<quote>respondent</quote>) named in the complaint an opportunity to submit to
the Secretary a written response to the complaint and to meet with a
representative of the Secretary to present statements from witnesses and other
evidence. The complainant shall be provided an opportunity to meet with a
representative of the Secretary and rebut any statements or evidence provided
to the Secretary by the respondent named in the complaint. In conducting such
investigation, the Secretary may issue subpoenas requiring the deposition of or
the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of any evidence,
including any books, papers, or documents, relating to the matter under
investigation. The Secretary shall complete the investigation and issue a
decision in accordance with the criteria set forth in subsection (d)(2) not
later than 90 days after the date of receipt of a complaint. The Secretary
shall notify, in writing, the complainant and the respondent named in the
complaint of the Secretary’s findings.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAB8DA10FEBA848CFBE992EC07A970445"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Preliminary
order following investigation</header><text>If the Secretary finds that a
violation of section 102(a) has occurred, the Secretary shall issue a
preliminary order providing the relief prescribed by paragraph (10). If a
hearing is not timely requested as provided for in paragraph (7), such
preliminary order shall be deemed a final order of the Secretary that is not
subject to judicial review.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4A9A31D7D44F4FC697B6D0000AC0B389"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Hearing</header>
<subparagraph id="HBB474950A2414B4C95C1F00BF5FE12E8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Request for
hearing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The complainant or
respondent may request a hearing on the record before an administrative law
judge—</text>
<clause id="HB874C9E9619748C9987C68E6D484A0B1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>if
the complainant or the respondent objects to a temporary reinstatement order or
preliminary order for relief and files such objections and request for a
hearing not later than 30 days after receiving notification of such preliminary
order;</text>
</clause><clause id="H3587660F72C94570899ED9F60BF61010"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if the complainant requests a hearing not
later than 30 days after receiving notice of the Secretary’s dismissal of his
or her complaint; or</text>
</clause><clause id="HC2EBABC9A4A641D587F640CC9045AF8F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if the Secretary has not issued a decision
under paragraph (5) within 90 days of the receipt of the complaint.</text>
</clause><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subparagraph">The
filing of objections under clause (i) shall not operate to stay any
reinstatement remedy contained in a temporary reinstatement order issued
pursuant to paragraph (4) or a preliminary order issued pursuant to paragraph
(6).</continuation-text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4ACAD559C0804B26BFAB2C547C202C28"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Such hearing request shall be granted, and
shall be conducted expeditiously and in accordance with the section 554 of
title 5, United States Code. In conducting such proceeding, the Secretary may
issue subpoenas requiring the deposition of or the attendance and testimony of
witnesses and the production of any evidence, including any books, papers, or
documents, relating to the matter under consideration. A decision issued in
accordance with the criteria set forth in subsection (d)(2), shall be issued
not later than 90 days after the date on which a hearing was requested under
this paragraph. The parties and the Secretary shall promptly be notified of the
decision. If the administrative law judge finds that a violation of section
102(a) has occurred, the judge shall issue a preliminary order providing the
relief prescribed by paragraph (10). If review under paragraph (8) is not
timely requested, such preliminary order shall be deemed a final order of the
Secretary that is not subject to judicial review.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H362AD5E9EC664FA398BC732B9E29D0B4"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Further
administrative review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not
later than 30 days after the date of notification of a decision by an
administrative law judge under paragraph (7), the complainant or the respondent
alleged to have committed a violation of section 102(a) may file objections to
specified portions thereof and request a further review by an administrative
review board designated by the Secretary under title IV (in this section
referred to as the <quote>review board</quote>). The review board’s review
shall be limited to determining whether the decision of the administrative law
judge was based upon substantial evidence and in accordance with all applicable
law. The decision of the administrative law judge shall be stayed pending the
completion of further review, except for any order of reinstatement which shall
be stayed only upon motion. If review is granted, the review board shall issue
a final decision and order affirming or reversing, in whole or in part, the
decision under review by not later than 90 days after receipt of the
administrative appeal. If it is determined that a violation of section 102 has
occurred, the review board shall issue a final decision and order providing
relief authorized under paragraph (10). Such decision and order shall
constitute final agency action with respect to the matter appealed. If judicial
review under paragraph (12) is not timely requested, such preliminary order
shall be deemed a final order of the Secretary that is not subject to judicial
review.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDF9688D43E4D41AB891565CBB310A542"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Settlement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At any time before issuance of a final
order, a proceeding under this subsection may be terminated on the basis of a
settlement agreement approved by the Secretary, administrative law judge, or
review board conducting a hearing, the complainant, and the employer alleged to
have committed the violation. The Secretary, administrative law judge, or
review board conducting a hearing may not accept any settlement that contains
conditions that are contrary to the public policy of this title, including any
restrictions on activity protected by this Act, and the right to seek future
employment with an employer other than a specific employer named in the
underlying complaint without discrimination.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H18ED810A7DCB4B37B91E67DFEC1502B0"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Remedy</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If, in response to a complaint filed under
subsection (a)(1), the Secretary, administrative law judge, or the review board
determines that a violation of
<internal-xref idref="H5A2340F895B744D8831DC77B73CAFF5B" legis-path="3.">section 102(a)</internal-xref> has occurred, the Secretary,
administrative law judge, or review board shall order the respondent who
committed such violation to—</text>
<subparagraph id="HCE9DAF1E09CE463BB4375EDE098FEE13"><enum>(A)</enum><text>take affirmative
action to abate the violation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC5704804084441748E54CFB841D223BE"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">reinstate the complainant to his or her
former position and with the same seniority status together with the
compensation (including back pay and interest) and restore the terms, rights,
conditions, and privileges associated with his or her employment, and provide
preference to the complainant to transfer to any available position that
provides equivalent or better compensation, terms, conditions, and privileges
of employment for which the complainant is qualified;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HEE77DC851DB1498891885BF817546E39"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide all appropriate relief, including
injunctive relief, compensatory, and exemplary damages;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4AAE838AD4DA4CB99BBD150C126D13E0"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">expunge all warnings, reprimands, or
derogatory references that have been placed in paper or electronic records or
databases of any type relating to the actions by the complainant that gave rise
to the unfavorable personnel action, and, at the complainant’s direction, send
a copy of the decision on the complaint to any person whom the complainant
reasonably believes may have received such unfavorable information; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H7EFBE0BFC121494AB89E131E54DB1935"><enum>(E)</enum><text>post appropriate
public notice of the violation.</text>
</subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">If such an
order is issued under this paragraph, the Secretary, administrative law judge,
or the review board, at the request of the complainant, shall assess against
the respondent against whom the order is issued a sum equal to the aggregate
amount of all costs and expenses (including attorneys’ and expert witness fees)
reasonably incurred, as determined by the Secretary, administrative law judge,
or the review board, by the complainant for, or in connection with, the
bringing the complaint upon which the order was issued.</continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEA69E349A8DC46E1B6AD064535CA22F8"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Enforcement of
order</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whenever any respondent
has failed to comply with a final order issued under this subsection, including
a final order for temporary relief, the Secretary or the complainant on whose
behalf the order was issued may file a civil action in the United States
district court for the district in which the violation was found to occur to
enforce such order. If both the Secretary and the person on whose behalf the
order was issued file such an action for enforcement, the action of the
Secretary shall take precedence. In actions brought under this paragraph, the
district courts shall have jurisdiction to grant all appropriate relief
including, injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and reasonable attorneys
and expert witness fees. In addition to enforcing the order, the court shall
assess a penalty of not greater than $10,000 a month against any person who
fails to comply with a final order issued under this subsection, which shall be
awarded to the party seeking enforcement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H986189957ED94F1687A31DFF8A2C6D5C"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Judicial
Review</header>
<subparagraph id="HA309FC78CFF945CEB1FF022D7E1D7553"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Appeal to court
of appeals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any complainant or
respondent adversely affected or aggrieved by a final order issued under this
subsection for which review is available, may obtain review of the order in the
United States Court of Appeals for the circuit in which the violation, with
respect to which the order was issued, allegedly occurred or the circuit in
which the complainant resided on the date of such violation. The petition for
review shall be filed not later than 60 days after the date the final order of
the Secretary, administrative law judge, or the review board was received.
Review shall conform to chapter 7 of title 5, United States Code. The
commencement of proceedings under this subparagraph shall not, unless ordered
by the court, operate as a stay of the order.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HF07B0592A7F148EAB76E94BD5FA19F89"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitation on
collateral attack</header><text>An order of the Secretary with respect to which
review could have been obtained under
<internal-xref idref="HA309FC78CFF945CEB1FF022D7E1D7553" legis-path="4.(b)(4)(A)">subparagraph (A)</internal-xref> shall not be subject
to judicial review in any criminal or other civil proceeding.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA7F47F95DE744ECA96A23166B0332F83"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Inaction by the
Secretary, administrative law judge, or the review board</header><text>If,
after a hearing is requested pursuant to paragraph (7) or a review is requested
under paragraph (8), the administrative law judge or the review board,
respectively, has not issued a final decision within 90 days after such hearing
or review is requested, the complainant may bring an action at law or equity
for de novo review in the appropriate district court of the United States, as
described in subsection (c), which shall have jurisdiction over such an action
without regard to the amount in controversy, and which action shall, at the
request of either party to such action, be tried by the court with a
jury.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFEF6AB58BEAA4196A2C65EB1B4932353"><enum>(c)</enum><header>District court
procedure</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H7480663D410B4C9FAD484EC00B31EAC5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Dismissal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The court shall not dismiss under
subsection (b)(6) or (e) of rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure a
complaint filed under this section unless there are no conceivable grounds upon
which a complainant may prevail.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H2FB41D1743A54C4B894E81A82F37D1CA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Temporary
relief</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The court shall, upon
request of the complainant, determine whether there is reasonable cause to
believe that the complainant makes the prima facie showing described in
subsection (b)(4), and if the court so determines, issue an order providing for
temporary reinstatement of the complainant.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H5BFDE3B126D14A119DFEE95D01F8CE54"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Decision</header><text>The
complainant in a case brought under subsection (b)(11) shall be entitled to a
trial by jury. The jury or the court shall determine whether a violation of
section 102(a) has occurred based upon the criteria set forth in paragraph
(d)(2).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF20326C995004FF4BEFFEFADBBD13113"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Relief</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Court shall have jurisdiction to grant
all appropriate relief to a prevailing complainant available by law or equity,
including, injunctive relief, compensatory and consequential damages, exemplary
damages, reasonable attorneys and expert witness fees, and court costs, and
notification to the appropriate public body having jurisdiction over the
violations of applicable law raised by the complainant.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5FD3A0AA2CD44E6384890BD561B5EC37"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Criteria for
dismissal and for decision</header>
<paragraph id="H6BC12727CE4B4301B7E794ADF590BA12"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Dismissal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall dismiss a complaint
filed under this section unless that complainant alleges facts in the
complaint, supplemented as appropriate through interviews, affidavits, or other
relevant evidence, which could conceivably support a prima facie claim that
conduct described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 102(a) was a
contributing factor in the unfavorable personnel action alleged in the
complaint. The Secretary shall not dismiss a complaint without interviewing a
complainant and providing him or her the opportunity to provide additional
evidence in support of his or her prima facie claim. An administrative law
judge or the review board may refer to the Secretary for further investigation
any appeal from the Secretary’s dismissal in which the administrative law judge
or review board determines the complainant alleges facts that could conceivably
support such a prima facie claim.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H505150119D764D1CB0F3276F2E5E43FB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Decision</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary, administrative law judge,
administrative review board, or a court may determine that a violation of
section 102(a) has occurred only if the complainant demonstrates that any
conduct described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 102(a) was a
contributing factor in the unfavorable personnel action alleged in the
complaint. Relief may not be ordered if the respondent demonstrates by clear
and convincing evidence that the respondent would have taken the same
unfavorable personnel action in the absence of the conduct described in
paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 102(a).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="HE71A039112A54593B6E2807FAA6AA948"><enum>104.</enum><header>Restrictions on
whistleblowing prohibited; confidentiality of whistleblower</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="H8D5C4B58010F4D74800B877B44117976"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Restrictions on
reporting prohibited; invalid contract clauses</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No employer shall by contract, policy, or
procedure prohibit or restrict any person from engaging in any action for which
a protection against discrimination or retaliation is provided under
<internal-xref idref="H5A2340F895B744D8831DC77B73CAFF5B" legis-path="3.">section 102</internal-xref>. Any clause or provision of any
contract for employment or contract with an independent contractor for the
provision of services which purports to limit or restrain an individual from
engaging in any of the actions described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of
<internal-xref idref="H800B21089ACE43F5812093B90480873B" legis-path="3.(a)">section 102(a)</internal-xref> as a condition of employment
or a condition of the contract, whether in force before, on, or after the date
of enactment of this title, shall be invalid and void as violative of public
policy as established by this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3BE89A624DD2411583EC6B6EB16D6C7C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Restrictions on
relief provided under this Act prohibited; invalid arbitration
clauses</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any clause of any
agreement between an employer and an employee that requires arbitration of a
claim arising under this title, whether in force before, on, or after the date
of enactment of this Act, shall not be enforceable. An employee may not submit
to binding arbitration of a claim arising under this title unless the
employee’s agreement is made after the employee becomes aware of an unfavorable
personnel action and such agreement is made in direct contemplation of that
specific unfavorable personnel action. No agreement, settlement, or decision
reached in arbitration shall be enforced that violates the public policies
established under this Act, including any restriction or activity protected by
this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HC169B6B63C1E4F7BA05837DF5DE920D3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Confidentiality</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The identity or identifying information of
an employee (in this subsection referred to as the <quote>complainant</quote>)
who complains or discloses information as described in
<internal-xref idref="H5A2340F895B744D8831DC77B73CAFF5B" legis-path="3.">section 102(a)</internal-xref> to a public body shall remain
confidential and shall not be disclosed by any person except—</text>
<paragraph id="H4104B59564A8451A86168AA85EB0B2A2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>upon the knowing
written consent of the complainant;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFF75CBEE25164EED8852812AAE8877F5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the case in
which there is imminent danger to health or public safety or an imminent
violation of criminal law; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB47825370E8A499BB302EF88A3DE7B53"><enum>(3)</enum><text>as otherwise
required by law.</text>
</paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">An employee
of a public body shall provide reasonable advance notice to the affected
employee if disclosure of that person's identity or identifying information is
to occur. An employee of a public body who is grossly negligent in disclosing
the identity of a complainant in violation of this subsection may be considered
to be acting outside such employee’s official duties.</continuation-text></subsection></section><section id="H52CB9B7FFF5940E99C2C23061CEC03A9"><enum>105.</enum><header>Nonpreemption</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="H1C5C3D49ABF343AF9298889D6351292E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Effect on other
laws</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this title
shall be construed to preempt any law, rule, or regulation of a State or
political subdivision of a State and nothing in this title shall be construed
or interpreted to impair or diminish in any way the authority of any State to
enact and enforce any law which provides equivalent or greater protections for
employees engaging in conduct protected under this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H9987385AD0CB4E698C2D192C9DC06CB7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rights retained
by whistleblowers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as
provided in section 103(b)(2)(A), nothing in this title shall be construed to
diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of any employee under any Federal
or State law, or under any collective bargaining agreement.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" id="H8180E30142F84249B0C42C2ED2F002B3"><enum>106.</enum><header>Effective date
and rules</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title shall
take effect on the date of enactment of this Act, and the procedures described
in section 103 shall apply to complaints and actions filed under this title
after such date of enactment. The Secretary shall establish interim final rules
to implement this title within 120 days of such date of enactment. The time
periods for processing complaints shall start once such interim rules are in
effect.</text>
</section><enum>II</enum><header>Whistleblower
Protection Office</header>
<section id="H4FC80886391441F19B5D67A99E10FE92"><enum>201.</enum><header>Establishment</header>
<subsection id="H5DECE1F8AB704EAAB94ECA584A8D143E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment
and purpose</header>
<paragraph id="H9E248363F3BE4BD5A90D1CC65C7DF28E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is established
in the Department of Labor the Whistleblower Protection Office (in this title
referred to as <quote>the Office</quote>) to administer the duties of the
Secretary under title I, the provisions of law listed in section 202 of this
Act, section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C.
660(c)), and the other provisions of law assigned to the Office by the
Secretary, except that duties involving hearings and subsequent review and
legal representation shall not be assigned to the Office, but may be assigned
to other offices and agencies within the Department of Labor.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8A0EBC01BB0D410DB4DABA988DD70D72"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Construction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this title shall in any way
remove or transfer the authorities currently under the jurisdiction of the Mine
Safety and Health Administration and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review
Commission.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H359C86A8EA664FD89C20988AEA996795"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Administrator</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Whistleblower Protection Office shall
be under the direction of an Administrator of Whistleblower Protection,
referred to in this title as <quote>the Administrator</quote>, who shall be
appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The
Administrator's compensation shall be set at level IV of the Executive
Schedule.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H934D04E6594345F2A8B082EB8A6C9530"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Appointment of
Personnel</header>
<paragraph id="H2C8695F712DB48018D371E9B89690984"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Appointment and
compensation</header><text>The Administrator may, subject to the civil service
laws, appoint such employees as the Administrator considers necessary to carry
out the functions and duties of the Office, and shall fix their compensation in
accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53
of title 5, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HAD999DA1C6204D1088A95477D2AC5ED2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Transfer of
personnel; budget</header>
<paragraph id="H3874ED872A074E26A7A3D00BD957B453"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Budgets and
personnel</header><text>All unexpended balances of appropriations, personnel,
property, records, obligations, and commitments which are used primarily with
respect to any functions transferred under the provisions of paragraph (1) to
the Administrator shall be transferred to the Office, as appropriate. The
transfer of personnel pursuant to this paragraph shall be without reduction in
classification or compensation for 1 year after such transfer, except that the
Administrator shall have full authority to assign personnel during such 1-year
period in order to efficiently carry out functions transferred to the
Administrator under this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9BCF4D8B23854699A5B75C3B949EB292"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Continuation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">All orders, decisions, determinations,
rules, and regulations, (A) which have been issued, made, granted, or allowed
to become effective in the exercise of functions which are transferred under
this subsection; and (B) which are in effect at the time this section takes
effect, shall continue in effect according to their terms until modified,
terminated, superseded, set aside, revoked, or repealed by the Secretary, the
Administrator, or other authorized officials, by any court of competent
jurisdiction, or by operation of law. The provisions of this subsection shall
not affect any proceedings pending at the time this title takes effect. The
provisions of this section shall not affect suits commenced prior to the date
this section takes effect and in all such suits proceedings shall be had,
appeals taken, and judgments rendered, in the same manner and effect as if this
section had not been enacted.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8DC5AFC75E10483BA939957B13E3B587"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Office shall, where appropriate, take
all the steps necessary, including entering into memorandum of understanding,
to coordinate investigation and adjudication of retaliation claims under this
Act with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other
appropriate public bodies having jurisdiction over the enforcement of the
underlying violations of applicable law.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H2E97788EC80A450ABE755D50EB2F5248"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Principal
office</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The principal location
of the Office shall be in the District of Columbia, but the Administrator or a
duly authorized representative may exercise any or all of the Administrator’s
powers in any place.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H1CBFBD9AD61C4E8093A22AD52F8626FC"><enum>202.</enum><header>Other private
sector whistleblower protections</header>
<subsection id="H60A188A738A9494CA759AB4B3F059AA7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Provisions To be
enforced in accordance with this Act</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any procedures set forth in
the following provisions of law, such provisions shall, after the effective
date of this Act, be administered in accordance with this Act by the Office
established by this title:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H140CD939EB4640DE89B84349C356A85B"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sections 20109, 30171, 31105, 42121, and
60129 of title 49, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6CE79D8E1E6B48C39A60AD9660CCB993"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Section 211 of the
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 (15 U.S.C. 2651).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H6AA04B984EFD4EEF8A62E22A1A32B75F"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Section 7 of the
International Safe Container Act (46 U.S.C. 1506).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H06A7080383D34A77AADD8706F6D9ADFD"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Section 1450 of
the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 300j–9i).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCB10D07EF9E0414EA5D647AE7569E189"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Section 507 of the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Amendments of 1972 (33 U.S.C.
1367).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H493CD71D567E44449590F0489418C662"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Section 40 of the
Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2087).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H46CA1885526346678BE5A1EF87ABD345"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Section 23(a)(1)
through (3) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. 2622).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEAAECE6E77A049CD934D28AC695E2287"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Section 7001 of
the Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6971).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9D41E1FD8B8D4867B47CBD7E44191192"><enum>(9)</enum><text>Section 322 of the
Clean Air Act, amendments of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7622).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9410A6AA38F249938B1E89624F0B0301"><enum>(10)</enum><text>Section 10 of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
(42 U.S.C. 9610).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBEA0C007B68743CD834FC610E924FD62"><enum>(11)</enum><text>Section 211 of
the Energy Reorganization Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5851).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0CB168E2F1E64879949E584ECF37D68A"><enum>(12)</enum><text>Section 806 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. 1514A).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HEA883ACB767E4A249D3EF82A4A50A750"><enum>(13)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1413 of the Implementing
Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (6 U.S.C. 1142).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6326D20EDE444900AFCE0ECD369A650C"><enum>(14)</enum><text>Section 18C of
the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 218C).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H13E9821657384CE7A3C3C6DB891FF2C6"><enum>(15)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78u–6).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2666F962B2844DB5A0445C4988369134"><enum>(16)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 23 of the Commodity Exchange Act (7
U.S.C. 26).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H5358D9D2066F495CBF19FE8ACADDBCE2"><enum>(17)</enum><text>The Seaman’s
Protection Act (46 U.S.C. 2114).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H796CB251652C4178A33B44C6CBE8B74D"><enum>(18)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1012 of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 399d).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB57320B7990A42689365FA3B67650B3A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clarification</header><text>Any
protections, rights, privileges, or remedies available to a covered employee
under the provisions of law described in subsection (a), which are additional
to and not inconsistent with those set forth in section 102, shall not be
limited by subsection (a). To the extent that any such provisions are
inconsistent with section 102, such provisions shall, at the request of a
complainant, be given effect over any inconsistent provision in section
102.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HBCF0EEA900B743188E6F41CC58F2562D"><enum>203.</enum><header>Duties, powers,
and functions</header>
<subsection id="HFC61261C46C34781A6254A59E4914DBC"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Subpoenas,
evidence, and testimony</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In
carrying out its duties under title I of this Act or under any of the
provisions of law referred to by section 202, the Administrator may issue
subpoenas requiring the deposition of or the attendance and testimony of
witnesses and the production of any evidence, including any books, papers, or
documents, relating to any matter under investigation by the Commission, or
required in connection with a hearing.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H2E03089DEB6D482D8A509C8D28769BFF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Monitoring of
complaints removed to Federal District Court</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall review the decision
in each action removed to a district court of the United States under section
103(b)(11) to determine whether an employer violated an applicable law, and
upon determining that an applicable law was so violated, notify the appropriate
public body having jurisdiction over the violation of the applicable law
regarding such violation.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H328748DA88D2461C86BC0F656B928D2E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Rules</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary is authorized to prescribe
such rules as are necessary for the orderly transaction of the proceedings of
the Office and for the implementation of the programs of the Office.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HD12147D27DC246FC91A34EDA017E55F5"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The Administrator shall begin to carry out the duties and
exercise the powers set forth in this title on the date that is 1 year after
the date of enactment of this Act, or such earlier date as the Secretary may
determine that the Office is sufficiently established, staffed, and
funded.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HE0AB475F220C4B31B97FF0CEB0A80D75"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Annual
reports</header>
<paragraph id="H2C56761BBC0E434297A79D398A4708F8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Administrator</header><text>The
Administrator shall annually—</text>
<subparagraph id="H29291EF3208C4C8D8CA7FDF301A0C519"><enum>(A)</enum><text>transmit a report
to Congress detailing the activities of the Office during the previous year,
including information relating to the number and nature of complaints filed,
the number of merit and non-merit cases, the number of such complaints disposed
of without investigation, the number of complaints that have not received an
adjudication within the time period required under this Act and the duration of
the delay for such complaints, investigations conducted, orders issued, and
statistics related to settlements; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9332D4E7D95E4D2597C94A724643DA65"><enum>(B)</enum><text>make available the
full text of all settlements approved by the Office, following the elimination
from such text of all personal identifying information about the complainant,
the employer, and any other party.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HE8E87CDC34B84659A844E25DE6A6B8EA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Approved
settlements</header><text>No settlement approved by the Office may prohibit the
disclosure described in paragraph (1)(B).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H2882B892D6FB4EC186695E78BFD0EA0B"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Study on
transition to Whistleblower Protection Office</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HCFE6AAF7B277410E92BCE1AC7DE8415F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>One year after
enactment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 6
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall
initiate a review of the Secretary’s progress in establishing the Whistleblower
Protection Office as required under section 201, and not later than 1 year
after such date of enactment, provide a report to the Congress on the
effectiveness of the transition, including—</text>
<subparagraph id="H2A6231BABACA4FF9966030CFD4458138"><enum>(A)</enum><text>whether existing
funds, staff, information systems, and authorities have been properly
transferred to the Office and make recommendations as necessary; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1F8E27ACF0F146928CB9ECD78E300366"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the status of
cases currently before the Office, the progress made by the Office in
eliminating the current backlog of whistleblower cases, and the plans of the
Office for ensuring that the backlog is eliminated.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HB107BAF2F0D04238878E344482956385"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Two years after
enactment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 2
years after such date of enactment, the Comptroller General shall report to
Congress on—</text>
<subparagraph id="H92C338CA487B4D1B90A15CB16D55F92A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>whether the
Office’s operational procedures have been established, whether necessary
regulations have been promulgated, whether there are adequate internal
controls, whether program outcomes are being effectively measured, whether
previous recommendations regarding this program have been effectively
implemented, whether investigative and supervisory staff have received
necessary training and equipment, whether the Office is fulfilling its mission
to fairly, efficiently, and effectively investigate whistleblower complaints,
assure timely enforcement, and to fully implement the statutory authorities
assigned to the Office; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0AAF527A6BAF47F1A7A78A53ADBD97B9"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the information described in
<internal-xref idref="H1F8E27ACF0F146928CB9ECD78E300366" legis-path="203.(e)(1)(B)">paragraph (1)(B)</internal-xref>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>Conforming
Amendments</header>
<section commented="no" id="H4C2B19823268499E8067FE468860F3F5"><enum>301.</enum><header>Occupational
Safety and Health Act of 1970</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="H06EA497B9BC747069D4994CE2DBC188A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Employee
actions</header><text>Section 11(c)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health
Act of 1970 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/660">29
U.S.C. 660(c)(1)</external-xref>) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HAF090B63DD064963BF63AD5993DBC5BE"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>discharge</quote> and all that follows through <quote>because
such</quote> and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HAE9F322F66A74E57BC3F35999C2EAD20" style="OLC">
<text>discharge or cause to be discharged,
or in any manner discriminate against or cause to be discriminated against, any
employee because—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="H2DB21A62EFED4AF18BEBCAD6735DD192" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>such</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H4F0134B48BA749708777B6F4C122B982"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>this Act or has</quote> and inserting the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H023FEE87C7334BB9BA4F6DB1AE2EC33B" style="OLC">
<text>this Act;</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="H354ADF4D86CD4282A737748CED9E3ABE" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>such employee
has</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H39CF1B706C264D8899D3F015C5CE0C9D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>in any such proceeding or because of the exercise</quote> and inserting
the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H98E1DE5DB3FA41AEAE9DC718D3E77210" style="OLC">
<text>before Congress or in any
Federal or State proceeding related to safety or
health;</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="HD1C1507BD6224BFEA9BAED8D0CA313A1" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>such employee has refused to violate
any provision of this Act; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H5F19E3A7D9EC45808E60B5210F7A4ABA" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>of the
exercise</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HF36703C5D79D45D49B0E5F76A094B0CB"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by inserting
before the period at the end the following: <quote>, including the reporting of
any injury, illness, or unsafe condition to the employer, agent of the
employer, safety and health committee involved, or employee safety and health
representative involved</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H55382A39BE0B4E04815DE93F4E86CC7E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prohibition of
retaliation</header><text>Section 11(c) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/660">29 U.S.C. 660(c)</external-xref>) is
amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="HDBF6D1B26EA44322806C520E40AA1287" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="H1215B3B4E45A4DF995E351A5756D7243"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Prohibition of
retaliation</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H8C838EEABD2545A1B7F928D52B541B81"><enum>(A)</enum><text>No person shall
discharge, or cause to be discharged, or in any manner discriminate against, or
cause to be discriminated against, an employee for refusing to perform the
employee’s duties if the employee has a reasonable apprehension that performing
such duties would result in serious injury to, or serious impairment of the
health of, the employee or other employees.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HFF6717056AB64513B5CC2611E22BB368" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of subparagraph (A), the
circumstances causing the employee’s good-faith belief that performing such
duties would pose a safety or health hazard shall be of such a nature that a
reasonable person, under the circumstances confronting the employee, would
conclude that there is such a hazard. In order to qualify for protection under
this paragraph, the employee, when practicable, shall have communicated or
attempted to communicate the safety or health concern to the employer and have
not received from the employer a response reasonably calculated to allay such
concern.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H89EA2644F838461EAB2F87F08F011ACE"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Procedure</header><text>Section
11(c) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/660">29
U.S.C. 660(c)</external-xref>) is amended by striking paragraph (3) and
inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEB0ECA8D297C4C64BF2FE6E0D65730DB" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="H6D38CF2D87B44B558CBA1107E4C8FC4C"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Complaint</header><text>Any
employee who believes that the employee has been discharged, disciplined, or
otherwise discriminated against by any person in violation of paragraph (1) or
(2) may seek relief for such violation by filing a complaint with the Secretary
under <internal-xref idref="HB408938739A246B6ABBDA55FB413292D" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5).</internal-xref></text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H3883CF038E7341F1AA88EB41A6BDA09B"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Statute of
limitations</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H585BE01829B14F3D91E0C798D4AA8A5D"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An employee may take the action permitted by paragraph
(3)(A) not later than 180 days after the later of—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="HB4F38ED79E4643169F6387FB7D87A6AC"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the date on which
an alleged violation of paragraph (1) or (2) occurs; or</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="HE915E940A6D34D4BA86BA2294F9F4526"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the date on which
the employee knows or should reasonably have known that such alleged violation
occurred.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H85481CA8F1104635B66CA8DB5068E5D2"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Repeat
violation</header><text>Except in cases when the employee has been discharged,
a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) shall be considered to have occurred on the
last date an alleged repeat violation occurred.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HB408938739A246B6ABBDA55FB413292D"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Investigation</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HD788E3C04F274C358F01F19A60B49ABA"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An employee may, within the time period required under
<internal-xref idref="H85481CA8F1104635B66CA8DB5068E5D2" legis-path="(4)(B)">paragraph (4)(B)</internal-xref>, file a complaint with the
Secretary alleging a violation of paragraph (1) or (2). If the complaint
alleges a prima facie case, the Secretary shall conduct an investigation of the
allegations in the complaint, which—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="H54FB6F8E99FC4DDAABEB7BA91791B9D3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall
include—</text>
<subclause commented="no" id="H348BEE69C90048F692D2C63E4E58B6A1"><enum>(I)</enum><text>interviewing the
complainant;</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" id="HE2A6BD2F694C4A319183F73A5E8BADA1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>providing the
respondent an opportunity to—</text>
<item commented="no" id="H6D528E9FA464495EAB5449AE0A44B12C"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>submit to the
Secretary a written response to the complaint; and</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="H07DB3518B1B54E2C84C8A9078B2BCAA8"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>meet with the
Secretary to present statements from witnesses or provide evidence; and</text>
</item></subclause><subclause commented="no" id="HEF6A4CDC51584CDDA245461DF408A205"><enum>(III)</enum><text>providing the
complainant an opportunity to—</text>
<item commented="no" id="H06EA4ED725BF4424B1FDE720A2BD57C6"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>receive any
statements or evidence provided to the Secretary;</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="HF4E15A8A626D46C688CDA72FE44AB9CB"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>meet with the
Secretary; and</text>
</item><item commented="no" id="H21C6AB1CD730476EB2BA9BFF611DD3F7"><enum>(cc)</enum><text>rebut any
statements or evidence; and</text>
</item></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" id="H09980C50CBFE49C7B9F5234924D5DFE6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>may include
issuing subpoenas for the purposes of such investigation.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HCC2F3B5E5D3D469385894D70CFA7B0D6"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Decision</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the filing of
the complaint, the Secretary shall—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="HFDC1594996614984969446FF5E601422"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">determine whether reasonable cause exists
to believe that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) has occurred; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="HC83E33955BD241E094E38F007D650D44"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">issue a decision granting or denying
relief.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H1D04DCEDD01A4538B603BB0F7AB4FD6F"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Preliminary
order following investigation</header><text>If, after completion of an
investigation under
<internal-xref idref="HB408938739A246B6ABBDA55FB413292D" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)(A)</internal-xref>, the Secretary finds
reasonable cause to believe that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) has
occurred, the Secretary shall issue a preliminary order providing relief
authorized under
<internal-xref idref="H01659186D5FC4F508C2426097EAE1266" legis-path="(14)">paragraph (14)</internal-xref> at the same time the Secretary
issues a decision under
<internal-xref idref="HCC2F3B5E5D3D469385894D70CFA7B0D6" legis-path="(5)(B)">paragraph (5)(B)</internal-xref>. If a de novo hearing is
not requested within the time period required under
<internal-xref idref="HEFC88CD177C7425AA7B3DAB498C8BC2F" legis-path="(7)">paragraph (7)(A)(i)</internal-xref>, such preliminary order
shall be deemed a final order of the Secretary and is not subject to judicial
review.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HEFC88CD177C7425AA7B3DAB498C8BC2F"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Hearing</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H530D4E735CA24F6FAE752AB84D137B2B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Request for
hearing</header>
<clause commented="no" id="H529787FA6C7E4C2F84479352F6963839"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A de novo hearing on the record before an administrative
law judge may be requested—</text>
<subclause commented="no" id="H0D559A8F50604A51B2C4DCF3746DF43E"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by the complainant or respondent within 30
days after receiving notification of a decision granting or denying relief
issued under
<internal-xref idref="HB408938739A246B6ABBDA55FB413292D" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)</internal-xref>(B) or
<internal-xref idref="H1D04DCEDD01A4538B603BB0F7AB4FD6F" legis-path="(6)">paragraph (6)</internal-xref> respectively;</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" id="HEDF1D822784847A5B1F24D9F91CF58BA"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by the
complainant within 30 days after the date the complaint is dismissed without
investigation by the Secretary under
<internal-xref idref="HB408938739A246B6ABBDA55FB413292D" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)</internal-xref>(A); or</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" id="HC12BAE31B96941C285617B6F5400DE73"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by the complainant within 120 days after
the date of filing the complaint, if the Secretary has not issued a decision
under <internal-xref idref="HB408938739A246B6ABBDA55FB413292D" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)</internal-xref>(B).</text>
</subclause></clause><clause commented="no" id="HAB3AD3859A1B4913AD8E8D640D7BC5AF"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Reinstatement
order</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The request for a
hearing shall not operate to stay any preliminary reinstatement order issued
under <internal-xref idref="H1D04DCEDD01A4538B603BB0F7AB4FD6F" legis-path="(6)">paragraph (6)</internal-xref>.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HBFB4B9F3C5AF445CAFFD1B42C0D01DF8"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Procedures</header>
<clause commented="no" id="H76FDF19840D149F6A84E0B6773EC25F0"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>A hearing requested under this paragraph shall be
conducted expeditiously and in accordance with rules established by the
Secretary for hearings conducted by administrative law judges.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="HA207BFACBC2247D187FA740F06258EE2"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Subpoenas;
production of evidence</header><text>In conducting any such hearing, the
administrative law judge may issue subpoenas. The respondent or complainant may
request the issuance of subpoenas that require the deposition of, or the
attendance and testimony of, witnesses and the production of any evidence
(including any books, papers, documents, or recordings) relating to the matter
under consideration.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H2C5BB924A5564461A874367A23E1D4F3"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Decision</header><text>The
administrative law judge shall issue a decision not later than 90 days after
the date on which a hearing was requested under this paragraph and promptly
notify, in writing, the parties and the Secretary of such decision, including
the findings of fact and conclusions of law. If the administrative law judge
finds that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) has occurred, the judge shall
issue an order for relief under
<internal-xref idref="H01659186D5FC4F508C2426097EAE1266" legis-path="(14)">paragraph (14)</internal-xref>. If review under paragraph (8)
is not timely requested, such order shall be deemed a final order of the
Secretary that is not subject to judicial review.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H0224DFE5CA22454C8BC545E4EE2DB128"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Administrative
appeal</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HC831EE8E4D9A4D748929386E420396AA"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 30
days after the date of notification of a decision and order issued by an
administrative law judge under
<internal-xref idref="HEFC88CD177C7425AA7B3DAB498C8BC2F" legis-path="(7)">paragraph (7)</internal-xref>, the complainant or respondent
may file, with objections, an administrative appeal with an administrative
review body designated by the Secretary under title IV of the Private Sector
Whistleblower Protection Streamlining Act of 2012 (in this subsection referred
to as the <term>review board</term>).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H6071D2AD02DA4C95B43732404E6F5CBA"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Standard of
Review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In reviewing the
decision and order of the administrative law judge, the review board shall
affirm the decision and order if it is determined that the factual findings set
forth therein are supported by substantial evidence and the decision and order
are made in accordance with applicable law.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HABDF169240244EE397505226B7F25342"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Decisions</header><text>If
the review board grants an administrative appeal, the review board shall issue
a final decision and order affirming or reversing, in whole or in part, the
decision under review by not later than 90 days after receipt of the
administrative appeal. If it is determined that a violation of paragraph (1) or
(2) has occurred, the review board shall issue a final decision and order
providing relief authorized under paragraph (14). Such decision and order shall
constitute final agency action with respect to the matter appealed.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H6997EE9DF4E8489A9E95840D39F0CC86"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Settlement in
the Administrative Process</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H368B0B11EAAD4D5A8B5D09FE1A1D2785"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>At any time before issuance of a final order, an
investigation or proceeding under this subsection may be terminated on the
basis of a settlement agreement entered into by the parties.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H99FACE0020A3479DB6D84F5769B8494D"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Public policy
considerations</header><text>Neither the Secretary, an administrative law
judge, nor the review board conducting a hearing under this subsection shall
accept a settlement that contains conditions conflicting with the rights
protected under this Act or that are contrary to public policy, including a
restriction on a complainant’s right to future employment with employers other
than the specific employers named in a complaint.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H7E229DFCC4494B019BDEF22CE8F671E5"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Inaction by the
review board or administrative law judge</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H5239AD3EF61549A3B32727932053E4F5"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The complainant may bring a de novo action described in
<internal-xref idref="HAEBB223918B848F1B6D308B9B23945EE" legis-path="(10)(B)">subparagraph (B)</internal-xref> if—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="HDF1A569D237940DC813AEDE79F45F7D4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an administrative
law judge has not issued a decision and order within the 90-day time period
required under
<internal-xref idref="HEFC88CD177C7425AA7B3DAB498C8BC2F" legis-path="(7)">paragraph (7)</internal-xref>(B)(iii); or</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H2DE6CE74294742B2B2101F6ED62CCE00"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the review board
has not issued a decision and order within the 90-day time period required
under <internal-xref idref="H0224DFE5CA22454C8BC545E4EE2DB128" legis-path="(8)">paragraph (8)</internal-xref>(C).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HAEBB223918B848F1B6D308B9B23945EE"><enum>(B)</enum><header>De novo
action</header><text>Such de novo action may be brought at law or equity in the
United States district court for the district where a violation of paragraph
(1) or (2) allegedly occurred or where the complainant resided on the date of
such alleged violation. The court shall have jurisdiction over such action
without regard to the amount in controversy and to order appropriate relief
under paragraph (14). Such action shall, at the request of either party to such
action, be tried by the court with a jury.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HEE4298BA810948F685EA22FE3255EC8C"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Judicial
review</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HA3461F2CF3DB477391EFB775E1F6C6FF"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Timely Appeal to
the court of appeals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any
party adversely affected or aggrieved by a final decision and order issued
under this subsection may obtain review of such decision and order in the
United States Court of Appeals for the circuit where the violation, with
respect to which such final decision and order was issued, allegedly occurred
or where the complainant resided on the date of such alleged violation. To
obtain such review, a party shall file a petition for review not later than 60
days after the final decision and order was issued. Such review shall conform
to <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 5, United
States Code. The commencement of proceedings under this subparagraph shall not,
unless ordered by the court, operate as a stay of the final decision and
order.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H4BAA6CA7FC834735843C935D36B3B213"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitation on
collateral attack</header><text>An order and decision with respect to which
review may be obtained under subparagraph (A) shall not be subject to judicial
review in any criminal or other civil proceeding.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HB96E29F94C484D4CB501E0BE41996E05"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Enforcement of
order</header><text>If a respondent fails to comply with an order issued under
this subsection, the Secretary or the complainant on whose behalf the order was
issued may file a civil action for enforcement in the United States district
court for the district in which the violation was found to occur to enforce
such order. If both the Secretary and the complainant file such action, the
action of the Secretary shall take precedence. The district court shall have
jurisdiction to grant all appropriate relief described in paragraph
(14).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H53B5096BCF1D4F2BB21EF2D8D25D80D3"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Burdens of
proof</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HCD442D4841F64118BF798A0DB31DE71C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Criteria for
determination</header><text>In making a determination or adjudicating a
complaint pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary, administrative law judge,
review board, or a court may determine that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2)
has occurred only if the complainant demonstrates that any conduct described in
paragraph (1) or (2) with respect to the complainant was a contributing factor
in the adverse action alleged in the complaint.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H5BF0D56FCFC74FBD984B48DC01CEADBB"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Prohibition</header><text>Notwithstanding
subparagraph (A), a decision or order that is favorable to the complainant
shall not be issued in any administrative or judicial action pursuant to this
subsection if the respondent demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that
the respondent would have taken the same adverse action in the absence of such
conduct.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H01659186D5FC4F508C2426097EAE1266"><enum>(14)</enum><header>Relief</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HEFCB6D4F24EE497CBB5FA62F049775FE"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Order for
relief</header><text>If the Secretary, administrative law judge, review board,
or a court determines that a violation of paragraph (1) or (2) has occurred,
the Secretary or court, respectively, shall have jurisdiction to order all
appropriate relief, including injunctive relief and compensatory and exemplary
damages, including—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="H782C91A956A647769C416985FE5A135A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>affirmative action
to abate the violation;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H4F5CFE3E21AA4960B9DF562D58D9DBE2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>reinstatement
without loss of position or seniority, and restoration of the terms, rights,
conditions, and privileges associated with the complainant’s employment,
including opportunities for promotions to positions with equivalent or better
compensation for which the complainant is qualified;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="HA5BD5F4D8B22456AA97A25DD103A3886"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>compensatory and
consequential damages sufficient to make the complainant whole, (including back
pay, prejudgment interest, and other damages);</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="HC2ED600E44DF43FD91911610139F8315"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>expungement of
all warnings, reprimands, or derogatory references that have been placed in
paper or electronic records or databases of any type relating to the actions by
the complainant that gave rise to the unfavorable personnel action, and, at the
complainant’s direction, transmission of a copy of the decision on the
complaint to any person whom the complainant reasonably believes may have
received such unfavorable information; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H6EAF3B755C9E4D11AC81593704E85573"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">notwithstanding section 9, civil penalties
not to exceed $100,000, which may be assessed by the Secretary as part of a
preliminary order or by the administrative law judge following a request by the
Secretary.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HCE6C053188AD43C486B5DBF93D9B2571"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Attorneys’ fees
and costs</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Secretary or
an administrative law judge, review board, or court grants an order for relief
under subparagraph (A), the Secretary, administrative law judge, review board,
or court, respectively, shall assess, at the request of the employee against
the employer—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="H9447F0E0CDFC40CFA5694F642A634DE1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>reasonable
attorneys’ fees; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H5D6F8153D3454B55B11B8740028C4982"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>costs (including
expert witness fees) reasonably incurred, as determined by the Secretary,
administrative law judge, review board, or court, respectively, in connection
with bringing the complaint upon which the order was issued.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HE60CEF36B48A44BB8B67160C2EA03533"><enum>(15)</enum><header> Procedural
Rights</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The rights and
remedies provided for in this subsection may not be waived by any agreement,
policy, form, or condition of employment, including by any pre-dispute
arbitration agreement or collective bargaining agreement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H9E05EAA40A304C828087EB51761553E9"><enum>(16)</enum><header>Savings</header><text>Nothing
in this subsection shall be construed to diminish the rights, privileges, or
remedies of any employee who exercises rights under any Federal or State law or
common law, or under any collective bargaining agreement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H731C310E50754DD2B3063CB415A7D764"><enum>(17)</enum><header>Election of
venue</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HBC84BCCC5C02422C9F01A1544D8D8DC1"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>An employee of an employer who is located in a State that
has a State plan approved under section 18 may file a complaint alleging a
violation of paragraph (1) or (2) by such employer with—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="H65086D5F89964102BF49EBADDABAB66A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Secretary
under <internal-xref idref="HB408938739A246B6ABBDA55FB413292D" legis-path="(5)">paragraph (5)</internal-xref>; or</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="HDA0491F3EDFC41F1B0682DA3CBCAEA2E"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a State plan
administrator in such State.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HF2A91FF0891140ADBAD1620382532D1F"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Referrals</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="H07DB03D8E4C84FC3B145DABF1326A0C5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the Secretary
receives a complaint pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i), the Secretary shall not
refer such complaint to a State plan administrator for resolution; or</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H08FE30ED45C84384A454B80E881FFAFB"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a State plan
administrator receives a complaint pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii), the State
plan administrator shall not refer such complaint to the Secretary for
resolution.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HA384D92833904692AAF46A826BB789DF"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Relation to
enforcement</header><text>Section 17(j) of such Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/666">29 U.S.C. 666)</external-xref> is
amended by inserting before the period the following: <quote>, including the
history of violations under section 11(c)</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HEEF135734B5541669AB73D364D1345BA"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Effective
date</header>
<paragraph id="H2EA9B41605D648F3B8EF329113144C5F"><enum>(1)</enum><header>General
rule</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in
paragraph (1), the amendments made by this section shall take effect not later
than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0BCD32F6162B4120A8B551C1FAC260EE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exception for
States and Political Subdivisions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a State that
has a State plan approved under section 18 of the Occupational Safety and
Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 667) shall amend its State plan to conform with
the requirements of the amendments made by this section not later than 12
months after the date of enactment of this Act, except that if the State’s
legislature is not in session during the 12-month period beginning on the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor may extend the period for
the State to make such amendments to its State plan by not more than 12 months.
Such amendments to the State plan shall take effect not later than 90 days
after the adoption of such amendments by such State.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H82691ABFAE744D2A960A111F68D1D44B"><enum>302.</enum><header>Federal Mine
Safety and Health Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
105(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 815(c)) is
amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H437524E934A84221AAF784ACC97F9913" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HFE358DE1D37B4CB7B13569C6857E62B2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Protection from
retaliation</header>
<paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2FAB0052D85C4B3B99AD2FFB7898E7A9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Retaliation
prohibited</header>
<subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H13727BD5AEEA4CE7B89D3A794B39BC4A"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Retaliation for
complaint or testimony</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No
person shall discharge or in any manner discriminate against or cause to be
discharged or cause discrimination against or otherwise interfere with the
exercise of the statutory rights of any miner or other employee of an operator,
representative of miners, or applicant for employment (including the spouse,
sibling, child, or parent of such miner or employee, if such individual is
employed or is applying for employment at a mine under the control of the
operator), because—</text>
<clause id="H2530E49D1D3B4C8187C316F984967DB8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>such miner or
other employee, representative, or applicant for employment—</text>
<subclause id="H59A7E85192BF402C809176E829089F5B"><enum>(I)</enum><text>has filed or made
a complaint, is about to file or make a complaint (or is perceived to have
filed or be about to file such a complaint), including a complaint notifying
the operator or the operator’s agent, or the representative of the miners at
the coal or other mine of an alleged danger or safety or health violation in a
coal or other mine;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H0015B03ECD0D41F08A630130D9C02CCE"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">instituted or caused to be instituted, or
is about to institute or cause to be instituted (or is perceived to have
instituted or be about to institute such a complaint), any proceeding under or
related to this Act or has testified or is about to testify in any such
proceeding or because of the exercise by such miner or other employee,
representative, or applicant for employment on behalf of him or herself or
others of any right afforded by this Act, or has reported any injury or illness
to an operator, or agent;</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H82EECB77ABAB4DD6AECBCAE115B82315"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has testified or is about to testify before
Congress or any Federal or State proceeding related to safety or health in a
coal or other mine; or</text>
</subclause><subclause id="HC45D5A8056D74174AD8A5665861FDE70"><enum>(IV)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">refused to violate any provision of this
Act, including any mandatory health and safety standard or regulation;
or</text>
</subclause></clause><clause id="H977429E7A33B49648EF3B3DC2A60E5D5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such miner is the subject of medical
evaluations and potential transfer under a standard published pursuant to
section 101.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H81D90992B5B84FD48DE864DE64295D59"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Retaliation for
refusal to perform duties</header>
<clause id="HA470338AEF94461288C37DFA88BC243E"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No person shall
discharge or in any manner discriminate against a miner or other employee of an
operator for refusing to perform the miner’s or other employee’s duties if the
miner or other employee has a good-faith and reasonable belief that performing
such duties would pose a safety or health hazard to the miner or other employee
or to any other miner or employee.</text>
</clause><clause id="H3379FDB44E794E7B9589E323F3E53B22"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Standard</header><text>For
purposes of clause (i), the circumstances causing the miner’s or other
employee’s good-faith belief that performing such duties would pose a safety or
health hazard shall be of such a nature that a reasonable person, under the
circumstances confronting the miner or other employee, would conclude that
there is such a hazard. In order to qualify for protection under this
paragraph, the miner or other employee, when practicable, shall have
communicated or attempted to communicate the safety or health concern to the
operator and have not received from the operator a response reasonably
calculated to allay such concern.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7C128388F24C4DA3BE80C1500056DEDE"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Complaint</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any miner or other employee or
representative of miners or applicant for employment who believes that he or
she has been discharged, disciplined, or otherwise discriminated against by any
person in violation of
<internal-xref idref="H2FAB0052D85C4B3B99AD2FFB7898E7A9" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> may file a complaint with the
Secretary alleging such discrimination not later than 180 days after the later
of—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA23A17341B154062BAC6F38695AF22AE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the last date on
which an alleged violation of
<internal-xref idref="H2FAB0052D85C4B3B99AD2FFB7898E7A9" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> occurs; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H85490D3847DE46048D3C484B663AEA48"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the date on which
the miner or other employee or representative knows or should reasonably have
known that such alleged violation occurred, or in the case of a violation that
is a repeated violation, the last date on which the whistleblower knows or
should reasonably have known that such violation occurred.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H83A44CB4544A4D1B90A2ADC9937B7D99"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Investigation
and hearing</header>
<subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H83CF0FA03A87408C81FC041A86916A7C"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Commencement of
investigation and initial determination</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon receipt of such complaint, the
Secretary shall forward a copy of the complaint to the respondent, and shall
commence an investigation within 15 days of the Secretary’s receipt of the
complaint, and, as soon as practicable after commencing such investigation,
make the determination required under subparagraph (B) regarding the
reinstatement of the miner or other employee.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H08C49C3DA07E420E9BD4EE5F4396923F"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Reinstatement</header><text>If
the Secretary finds that such complaint was not frivolously brought, the
Commission, on an expedited basis upon application of the Secretary, shall
order the immediate reinstatement of the miner or other employee until there
has been a final Commission order disposing of the underlying complaint of the
miner or other employee. If either the Secretary or the miner or other employee
pursues the underlying complaint, such reinstatement shall remain in effect
until the Commission has disposed of such complaint on the merits, regardless
of whether the Secretary pursues such complaint by filing a complaint under
subparagraph (D) or the miner or other employee pursues such complaint by
filing an action under paragraph (4). If neither the Secretary nor the miner or
other employee pursues the underlying complaint within the periods specified in
paragraph (4), such reinstatement shall remain in effect until such time as the
Commission may, upon motion of the operator and after providing notice and an
opportunity to be heard to the parties, vacate such complaint for failure to
prosecute.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0682D7BEA36F4CCA8383C3B4E6059FB9"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Investigation</header><text>Such
investigation shall include interviewing the complainant and—</text>
<clause id="HAADDCF84D79D4EA898620E2F66291857"><enum>(i)</enum><text>providing the
respondent an opportunity to submit to the Secretary a written response to the
complaint and to present statements from witnesses or provide evidence;
and</text>
</clause><clause id="H2BFF2CFDC13B4CDC972E144764867732"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">providing the complainant an opportunity to
receive any statements or evidence provided to the Secretary and to provide
additional information or evidence, or rebut any statements or evidence.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H422B1EBF796D4AFF8C7681DD0EE723A3"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Action by the
Secretary</header><text>If, upon such investigation, the Secretary determines
that the provisions of this subsection have been violated, the Secretary shall
immediately file a complaint with the Commission, with service upon the alleged
violator and the miner or other employee, applicant for employment, and
representative of miners alleging such discrimination or interference and
propose an order granting appropriate relief.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H96A0C697D45644C5BB366216E47E805E"><enum>(E)</enum><header>Action of the
Commission</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Commission
shall afford an opportunity for a hearing on the record (in accordance with
section 554 of title 5, United States Code, but without regard to subsection
(a)(3) of such section) and thereafter shall issue an order, based upon
findings of fact, affirming, modifying, or vacating the Secretary’s proposed
order, or directing other appropriate relief. Such order shall become final 30
days after its issuance. The complaining miner or other employee,
representative, or applicant for employment may present additional evidence on
his or her own behalf during any hearing held pursuant to this
paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEC05321F67A2425F84CB2A454C4000FC"><enum>(F)</enum><header>Relief</header><text>The
Commission shall have authority in such proceedings to require a person
committing a violation of this subsection to take such affirmative action to
abate the violation and prescribe a remedy as the Commission considers
appropriate, including—</text>
<clause id="H1CADF2D6C011406BB0979FDF8B29C95F"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the rehiring or reinstatement of the miner
or other employee with back pay and interest and without loss of position or
seniority, and restoration of the terms, rights, conditions, and privileges
associated with the complainant’s employment;</text>
</clause><clause id="HD307CF7177334044BAF8711142E563C4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>any other
compensatory and consequential damages sufficient to make the complainant
whole, and exemplary damages where appropriate; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HB0ED695B64044C248BF7233776D69019"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">expungement of all warnings, reprimands, or
derogatory references that have been placed in paper or electronic records or
databases of any type relating to the actions by the complainant that gave rise
to the unfavorable personnel action, and, at the complainant’s direction,
transmission of a copy of the decision on the complaint to any person whom the
complainant reasonably believes may have received such unfavorable
information.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H4EEA919DB8F04650A3459D296B48BCC9"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Notice to and
action of complainant</header>
<subparagraph id="H4321979B60D0484C98B3780B74E4828E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Notice to
complainant</header><text>Not later than 90 days of the receipt of a complaint
filed under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall notify, in writing, the miner or
other employee, applicant for employment, or representative of miners of his
determination whether a violation has occurred.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H22655D390FC645A5997664D680CCB375"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Action of
complainant</header><text>If the Secretary, upon investigation, determines that
the provisions of this subsection have not been violated, the complainant shall
have the right, within 30 days after receiving notice of the Secretary’s
determination, to file an action in his or her own behalf before the
Commission, charging discrimination or interference in violation of
<internal-xref idref="H2FAB0052D85C4B3B99AD2FFB7898E7A9" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref>.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF8207A04DFCE4CA8A7A8A027EC5AA57C"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Hearing and
decision</header><text>The Commission shall afford an opportunity for a hearing
on the record (in accordance with section 554 of title 5, United States Code,
but without regard to subsection (a)(3) of such section), and thereafter shall
issue an order, based upon findings of fact, dismissing or sustaining the
complainant’s charges and, if the charges are sustained, granting such relief
as it deems appropriate as described in
<internal-xref idref="H96A0C697D45644C5BB366216E47E805E" legis-path="(c)(3)(B)">paragraph (3)(D)</internal-xref>. Such order shall
become final 30 days after its issuance.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HBA4FCEAABBD04C88A53EEB148ED74F5E"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Burden of
proof</header><text>In adjudicating a complaint pursuant to this subsection,
the Commission may determine that a violation of
<internal-xref idref="H2FAB0052D85C4B3B99AD2FFB7898E7A9" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> has occurred only if the
complainant demonstrates that any conduct described in
<internal-xref idref="H2FAB0052D85C4B3B99AD2FFB7898E7A9" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> with respect to the
complainant was a contributing factor in the adverse action alleged in the
complaint. A decision or order that is favorable to the complainant shall not
be issued pursuant to this subsection if the respondent demonstrates by clear
and convincing evidence that the respondent would have taken the same adverse
action in the absence of such conduct.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0848045F8B65495DA4CC1AC7F003306B"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Attorneys’
fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whenever an order is
issued sustaining the complainant’s charges under this subsection, a sum equal
to the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees,
as determined by the Commission to have been reasonably incurred by the
complainant for, or in connection with, the institution and prosecution of such
proceedings shall be assessed against the person committing such violation. The
Commission shall determine whether such costs and expenses were reasonably
incurred by the complainant without reference to whether the Secretary also
participated in the proceeding.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H32CFAE416DC34AB488784F26E8CFD31E"><enum>(7)</enum><header> Expedited
proceedings; Judicial review</header><text>Proceedings under this subsection
shall be expedited by the Secretary and the Commission. Any order issued by the
Commission under this subsection shall be subject to judicial review in
accordance with section 106. Violations by any person of
<internal-xref idref="H2FAB0052D85C4B3B99AD2FFB7898E7A9" legis-path="(c)(1)">paragraph (1)</internal-xref> shall be subject to the
provisions of sections 108 and 110(a)(4).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3E06600A05DB4870B28159B216E93EFD"><enum>(8)</enum><header> Procedural
Rights</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The rights and
remedies provided for in this subsection may not be waived by any agreement,
policy, form, or condition of employment, including by any pre-dispute
arbitration agreement or collective bargaining agreement.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7C811E703F4C426EA2006B4A1181C386"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Savings</header><text>Nothing
in this subsection shall be construed to diminish the rights, privileges, or
remedies of any employee who exercises rights under any Federal or State law or
common law, or under any collective bargaining
agreement.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HA5FB0E9BDBDD4BC49524DCE71C4F175B"><enum>303.</enum><header>Amendment to
title 18 provisions related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1514A(a) of title 18, United States
Code, is amended by inserting <quote>, whether employed inside or outside the
United States,</quote> after <quote>any other manner discriminate against an
employee</quote>.</text>
</section><section commented="no" id="HDBF932E9434A4E5185A459D752D07C36"><enum>304.</enum><header>Energy
Reorganization Act of 1974</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 211(a)(2) of the Energy
Reorganization Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5851(a)(2)) is amended by redesignating
subparagraphs (F) and (G) as subparagraphs (G) and (H), respectively, and
inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC38BD6F1A9B646CE8C34D93CA3DDEE3C" style="OLC">
<subparagraph commented="no" id="HDF29D094C8CF41BC8D279753CD352573"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a Federal agency to the extent such agency
is a licensee or applicant for a license under subparagraph (A) or
(B);</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><enum>IV</enum><header>Administrative
Review Board</header>
<section id="HE31361C3CF314B79BEC7E048826C3DD6"><enum>401.</enum><header>Administrative
Review Board</header>
<subsection id="H2FD8E11DD8744AC3852E258F4F9408A6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, there is established an Administrative Review Board (in
this section referred to as the <quote>Board</quote>) within the Department of
Labor which shall be composed of 5 members appointed by the Secretary, not more
than 3 of whom may be adherents of the same political party. No member of the
Board may hold another office or position in the Government of the United
States, except as otherwise provided by law or at the direction of the
Secretary.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HB43CA6AB3F854F7C899C511A4F417A47"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Appointment</header><text>The
members of the Board shall be individuals who, by ability, background,
training, or experience are especially qualified to carry out the functions of
the Board. The Secretary shall appoint these members in consultation with the
Chairs and Ranking Members of the House Committee on Education and the
Workforce and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H5FE5546EF9074F519C58FDFC9BC28B15"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Quorum;
Panels</header><text>For the purposes of carrying out its functions under this
Act and any other area in which the Secretary delegates his or her authority, 3
members of the Board shall constitute a quorum and official actions can be
taken only on the affirmative vote of 2 members. The Board may delegate its
authority to panels comprised of three members of the Board. Any party
aggrieved by a decision of a panel of the Board may, within 10 days after the
date of entry of the decision, petition the full Board for review of the
panel's decision. Upon an affirmative vote of the majority of the Board, the
petition for hearing by the full Board shall be granted.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H0F0E00A2BFDF46BA9DF795640805310C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Terms of office;
filling vacancies; removal</header>
<paragraph id="H8D6A9A31E6D04A778C9670B0278B3C6D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Terms</header><text>Each
member shall be appointed to a single 5-year term, which shall be staggered so
that no more than one vacancy is scheduled per year. The initial 5 members
shall be appointed to terms of the following lengths: 1 year, 2 years, 3 years,
4 years, and 5 years.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEC0BAA33F8D848D7811A400867AE0A28"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Vacancies</header><text>A
member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the end of a term of office
for the member’s predecessor serves for the remainder of that term. Any
appointment is subject to the terms of subsection (b). A member appointed
initially to a 5-year term, may not be reappointed to another 5-year term, but
members appointed to fill a vacancy may be appointed to their own full 5-year
term. Upon expiration of his or her term, the member may continue to serve
until a successor is appointed and has qualified, except that such member may
not continue to serve for more than one year after the date on which his or her
term expired.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7A856128A815422F871CBC60F8C9D186"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Removal</header><text>A
member may be removed by the Secretary only for inefficiency, neglect of duty,
or malfeasance in office.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H057DAB1BF69C4D69A66EF83BE1885D8B"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Chair and vice
chair</header><text>The Secretary of Labor shall from time to time appoint one
of the members of the Board as Chair of the Board. The Chair is the chief
executive and administrative officer of the Board, and shall have the authority
to exercise all administrative functions necessary to operate the Board. The
Secretary of Labor shall from time to time designate one of the members of the
Board as Vice Chair of the Board, with such duties and responsibilities as the
Secretary shall prescribe. During the absence or disability of the Chair, or
when the office of Chair is vacant, the Vice Chair shall perform the functions
vested in the Chair. During the absence or disability of both the Chair and
Vice Chair, the Secretary shall designate one of the remaining Board members to
perform the functions vested in the Chair and Vice Chair.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H8561B67DA1A04E749E674985CE9FC0BB"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Jurisdiction and
authority</header>
<paragraph id="H1CF3F86B00564BCCB80643B4FCEA79F4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Board shall have jurisdiction and authority to decide
appeals from administrative decisions and issue final agency decisions on
behalf of the Secretary of Labor with respect to all matters delegated or
prescribed by order of the Secretary of Labor or pursuant to any other law,
rule, or regulation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7715670FC2914D879A61F4A7F6FE1FCD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Supersedure</header><text>The
Board shall supersede in function and authority the Administrative Review Board
established by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to the Secretary’s order 1–2000
(67 Fed. Reg. 64272) effective 90 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE2F2BB847E444911BF0ABBBD632013A2"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Pay</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The members of the Board shall receive
compensation not to exceed level III of the Executive Schedule.</text>
</subsection></section>