112th CONGRESS2d Session In the House of Representatives, U. S., September 28, 2012 AMENDMENT:
That the bill from the Senate (S. 743) entitled An Act to amend chapter 23 of title 5, United States Code, to clarify the disclosures of information protected from prohibited personnel practices; to require a statement in nondisclosure policies, forms, and agreements that such policies, forms, and agreements conform with certain disclosure protections; to provide certain authority for the Special Counsel; and for other purposes., do pass with the following
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012.
<enum>I</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Protection of certain disclosures of information by Federal employees</header> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1CD4C0F15E00494AACA27078EB9717DC" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clarification of disclosures covered</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE04789533A764E47A93614A462FF18CD"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2302(b)(8) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2C0A5B2F0AA541DCA79445BDA26F9A7A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking <quote>a violation</quote> and inserting <quote>any violation</quote>; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9FB0C473C4A342F5AC35B689F135E896"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking <quote>a violation</quote> and inserting <quote>any violation (other than a violation of this section)</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9B62D3489DDC47EF9D25EBF2F54C76DB"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prohibited personnel practices under section 2302<enum-in-header>(b)</enum-in-header>(9)</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H616D08B8E1F44137A8DA9F4C84733F11"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Technical and conforming amendments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text> <subparagraph id="HFE38E6D7140C40EAB280AB9540F9B73D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsections (a)(3), (b)(4)(A), and (b)(4)(B)(i) of section 1214 and in subsections (a), (e)(1), and (i) of section 1221, by inserting <quote>or section 2302(b)(9) (A)(i), (B), (C), or (D)</quote> after <quote>section 2302(b)(8)</quote> each place it appears; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H090E813D3784447E99CA1337E987CD10"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in section 2302(a)(2)(C)(i), by inserting <quote>or section 2302(b)(9) (A)(i), (B), (C), or (D)</quote> after <quote>(b)(8)</quote>. </text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7F8AAAAB7E404BCEA6D1F270012CB75A"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Other references</header> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H3C1324C20F1747B886E67BF95DE319B6"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Title 5, United States Code, is amended in subsection (b)(4)(B)(i) of section 1214 and in subsection (e)(1) of section 1221 by inserting <quote>or protected activity</quote> after <quote>disclosure</quote> each place it appears.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8BEAD4BBDAC149A591DAA7EAAE977DA2" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2302(b)(9) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H730D3679D0B24DC3B987D3755B259E0F"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3DD1788A1AA64A94A4AA25BDDCCA9C33" style="OLC"> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0CF5A4153BFC4E65981840977A02B0A3"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the exercise of any appeal, complaint, or grievance right granted by any law, rule, or regulation—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H269F22A1C4934123852D5BA84379928F"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">with regard to remedying a violation of paragraph (8); or</text></clause> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6E72E64372AB445CA0C9EEAE0CDD30B5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">other than with regard to remedying a violation of paragraph (8);</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB56B5E8C718141C4AD9B94B49E20A561"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B), by inserting <quote>(i) or (ii)</quote> after <quote>subparagraph (A)</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE11CDF4D7CDD4BE6B27923B78E6F2A76" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2302 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H581FD01B32F2414493CE0A1EB9D45939" style="OLC"> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE0B56DACDC7544DCA470A264D3FFE871"><enum>(f)</enum> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H2C4974149287409DA329C33C8AE7AF0D"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A disclosure shall not be excluded from subsection (b)(8) because—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD54F7EE5EE514BA188AA8F131EF54630" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the disclosure was made to a supervisor or to a person who participated in an activity that the employee or applicant reasonably believed to be covered by subsection (b)(8)(A)(i) and (ii);</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8CB22CA594C143D795D61ABBF7539F98" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the disclosure revealed information that had been previously disclosed;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFA5A0B6D91244FB8A631AF1CD1875947" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">of the employee's or applicant's motive for making the disclosure;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE21F9FCA8A9A45B4BB24A3BB2E442139" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the disclosure was not made in writing;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFC7E9292C5CB499EB51FC2726806E41C" indent="up1"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the disclosure was made while the employee was off duty; or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H24C186BBB0F54DC68F546BC126B4233A" indent="up1"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">of the amount of time which has passed since the occurrence of the events described in the disclosure.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1AA5497F8E7F4092B2980D26D9F06055" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a disclosure is made during the normal course of duties of an employee, the disclosure shall not be excluded from subsection (b)(8) if any employee who has authority to take, direct others to take, recommend, or approve any personnel action with respect to the employee making the disclosure, took, failed to take, or threatened to take or fail to take a personnel action with respect to that employee in reprisal for the disclosure.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H44E4EB7C0D2C44959C8FACB714813495" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>102.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitional amendments</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2302(a)(2) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H899BA9F374F4421CACF4DB34952AB275"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H692DACF6AF104BADA19D69407F716AE5"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (C)(iii), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEAE2634755BA41038E654A8289231653"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6F907285EE9842D6AE4DB099CCB3AD87" style="OLC"> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5AB01D9A6BB94723B1C1CC0C5F21DB3F" indent="up1"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><term>disclosure</term> means a formal or informal communication or transmission, but does not include a communication concerning policy decisions that lawfully exercise discretionary authority unless the employee or applicant providing the disclosure reasonably believes that the disclosure evidences—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3AB3BE6952B5456598D6502F15F8D540"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any violation of any law, rule, or regulation; or</text></clause> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA5833C0908384C3BAB796E969F36F183"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9C13CB4EDDA44630805E37018F665752" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>103.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rebuttable presumption</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2302(b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by amending the matter following paragraph (12) to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H14A429A1EC5C4417843B45DCDF09C960" style="OLC"> <quoted-block-continuation-text commented="no" quoted-block-continuation-text-level="subsection">This subsection shall not be construed to authorize the withholding of information from Congress or the taking of any personnel action against an employee who discloses information to Congress. For purposes of paragraph (8), (i) any presumption relating to the performance of a duty by an employee whose conduct is the subject of a disclosure as defined under subsection (a)(2)(D) may be rebutted by substantial evidence, and (ii) a determination as to whether an employee or applicant reasonably believes that such employee or applicant has disclosed information that evidences any violation of law, rule, regulation, gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety shall be made by determining whether a disinterested observer with knowledge of the essential facts known to and readily ascertainable by the employee or applicant could reasonably conclude that the actions of the Government evidence such violations, mismanagement, waste, abuse, or danger.</quoted-block-continuation-text><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6E1B99C3D4AF4963A853F79F082D6493" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>104.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Personnel actions and prohibited personnel practices</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE249A15C96C84C9DB94786FCFA58A0E0"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Personnel action</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2302(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H194522354E564B76A309399890AF4337"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (x), by striking <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE6754BEFFA30468990D37426F32353EF"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating clause (xi) as clause (xii) and inserting after clause (x) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9B95C555CAA94C6581100D53210C9D03" style="OLC"> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H16D80484F839443683690D759C5A3233" indent="up1"><enum>(xi)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the implementation or enforcement of any nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement; and</text></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H96D81439FBF14E5CA20DDE289CE10D22"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prohibited personnel practice</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H05862C60655E4886AE93959F65E015AA"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 2302(b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0F5985F684AF465E91C3BB24F97CD4AB"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (11), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEA7C5F1E77AB4BC8BB750A4E7229B9CE"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (12), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE922C790467E454E99D811C922D92A90"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (12) the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA02AA6A91C0B4772874A55015801CE81" style="OLC"> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCD087B7B29504384A90F3CC156799EF6"><enum>(13)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">implement or enforce any nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement, if such policy, form, or agreement does not contain the following statement: <quote>These provisions are consistent with and do not supersede, conflict with, or otherwise alter the employee obligations, rights, or liabilities created by existing statute or Executive order relating to (1) classified information, (2) communications to Congress, (3) the reporting to an Inspector General of a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, or (4) any other whistleblower protection. The definitions, requirements, obligations, rights, sanctions, and liabilities created by controlling Executive orders and statutory provisions are incorporated into this agreement and are controlling.</quote>.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H84410F7BEC8F49308EBD7FF060BEE1C9"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Agency websites</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Agencies making use of any nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement shall also post the statement required under section 2302(b)(13) of title 5, United States Code (as added by this Act) on the agency website, accompanied by the specific list of controlling Executive orders and statutory provisions.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H005066C920EC4730AFAE8686B365FCD0"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement in effect before the effective date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">With respect to a nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement that was in effect before the effective date of this Act, but that does not contain the statement required under section 2302(b)(13) of title 5, United States Code (as added by this Act) for implementation or enforcement—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H84B1AFC3A79D4C5ABBA1B76E149BC5AF"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">it shall not be a prohibited personnel practice to enforce that policy, form, or agreement with regard to a current employee if the agency gives such employee notice of the statement; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1606A250F93549A8893D37DA4E593B91"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">it shall not be a prohibited personnel practice to enforce that policy, form, or agreement after the effective date of this Act with regard to a former employee if the agency complies with paragraph (2) of this subsection.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFAA099CD790F4DC69B5AC2A8A2480FDD"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Retaliatory investigations</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE4830C2246FA41C68FEA3A347FE217C8"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Agency investigation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1214 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H121E06E53D1544B4BF6E8A68C8F6C559" style="OLC"> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6C2C67F4035D4455B14A005F55EA434B"><enum>(h)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any corrective action ordered under this section to correct a prohibited personnel practice may include fees, costs, or damages reasonably incurred due to an agency investigation of the employee, if such investigation was commenced, expanded, or extended in retaliation for the disclosure or protected activity that formed the basis of the corrective action.</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1E3315CF9130497796C2570A5ADA3D6C"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Damages</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1221(g) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5554DD4BDD1C49D0A58FFDF2FF72B138" style="OLC"> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H35B2C88E15B944A2A337DDE3F219D477" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any corrective action ordered under this section to correct a prohibited personnel practice may include fees, costs, or damages reasonably incurred due to an agency investigation of the employee, if such investigation was commenced, expanded, or extended in retaliation for the disclosure or protected activity that formed the basis of the corrective action.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H021EB61657B648D281CF227F282B18E2" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>105.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Exclusion of agencies by the President</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2302(a)(2)(C) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6BA2E7DF84F44744BDD17B5680A6BAF2" style="OLC"> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAE50D60BDC2D41C79A68AC13753237A8"><enum>(ii)</enum> <subclause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H35BF75841A8C41B097EEBD85E218F6D0"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the National Reconnaissance Office; and</text></subclause> <subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H86A82B4951D742588CB9C7BF9FFDBEAA" indent="up1"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">as determined by the President, any Executive agency or unit thereof the principal function of which is the conduct of foreign intelligence or counterintelligence activities, provided that the determination be made prior to a personnel action; or</text></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBB67CE09A2F2486B85D93E71E1FC1B8C" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>106.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Disciplinary action</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1215(a)(3) of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H060EB3A6CB9141AD81C554FF2764A1A5" style="OLC"> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8EB145DD5100440D901D340594F60C92" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HE2482DF8A4E2400DA7108C0A2EA4B71C"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A final order of the Board may impose—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H368092484EDA45449BBBC0AE89F49A7D" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">disciplinary action consisting of removal, reduction in grade, debarment from Federal employment for a period not to exceed 5 years, suspension, or reprimand;</text></clause> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD409B7FB44504D2FA8FB4DD44A865EC6" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an assessment of a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000; or</text></clause> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H757AED6273D543A2A8BC51FDC2226D88" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any combination of disciplinary actions described under clause (i) and an assessment described under clause (ii).</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA075DE6B73114D709FE794314E7CF0E0" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In any case brought under paragraph (1) in which the Board finds that an employee has committed a prohibited personnel practice under section 2302(b)(8), or 2302(b)(9) (A)(i), (B), (C), or (D), the Board may impose disciplinary action if the Board finds that the activity protected under section 2302(b)(8), or 2302(b)(9) (A)(i), (B), (C), or (D) was a significant motivating factor, even if other factors also motivated the decision, for the employee's decision to take, fail to take, or threaten to take or fail to take a personnel action, unless that employee demonstrates, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the employee would have taken, failed to take, or threatened to take or fail to take the same personnel action, in the absence of such protected activity.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H99C132CA6F3A4A2A9AE8604B4D4C52CE" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>107.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Remedies</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H68381E98740F4E4D98B8614F2E649DDA"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Attorney fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1204(m)(1) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking <quote>agency involved</quote> and inserting <quote>agency where the prevailing party was employed or had applied for employment at the time of the events giving rise to the case</quote>.</text></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1A1CD76BCD0E49339EBA281E8DA6C36A"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Damages</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sections 1214(g)(2) and 1221(g)(1)(A)(ii) of title 5, United States Code, are amended by striking all after <quote>travel expenses,</quote> and inserting <quote>any other reasonable and foreseeable consequential damages, and compensatory damages (including interest, reasonable expert witness fees, and costs).</quote> each place it appears.</text></subsection></section> <section id="HF26CB0AC00DB4E049D6523E51D08B2EE"><enum>108.</enum><header>Judicial review</header> <subsection id="H427597BCB61E4E8D8C52061840E9B507"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Section 7703(b) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking the matter preceding paragraph (2) and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block id="HE5548682C45141E699D392ED463665A3" style="OLC"> <subsection id="HC662D3903F634D2E84E10F0D697E1D94"><enum>(b)</enum> <paragraph id="H7B58DCD52C3C40D3A9BF604E93AC4044" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum> <subparagraph id="HA5339B43EC5C482FB60C3E5BF3AD3C43" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Except as provided in subparagraph (B) and paragraph (2) of this subsection, a petition to review a final order or final decision of the Board shall be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any petition for review shall be filed within 60 days after the Board issues notice of the final order or decision of the Board.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="HEE7028377DDF4E1E8183A46CA95E94E8" indent="up2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>During the 2-year period beginning on the effective date of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012, a petition to review a final order or final decision of the Board that raises no challenge to the Board’s disposition of allegations of a prohibited personnel practice described in section 2302(b) other than practices described in section 2302(b)(8), or 2302(b)(9) (A)(i), (B), (C), or (D) shall be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or any court of appeals of competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any petition for review shall be filed within 60 days after the Board issues notice of the final order or decision of the Board.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection> <subsection id="H3F789671A8E8445E86AFB328CCD69225"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Review obtained by Office of Personnel Management</header><text>Section 7703(d) of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block id="H30583C26440A4FD3B7661B0659F605D4" style="OLC"> <subsection id="HB112795E28DE473EBE666C10BBD403F5"><enum>(d)</enum> <paragraph id="H3F601B4036294B77A8535714745CFB58" display-inline="yes-display-inline"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Except as provided under paragraph (2), this paragraph shall apply to any review obtained by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management. The Director may obtain review of any final order or decision of the Board by filing, within 60 days after the Board issues notice of the final order or decision of the Board, a petition for judicial review in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit if the Director determines, in the discretion of the Director, that the Board erred in interpreting a civil service law, rule, or regulation affecting personnel management and that the Board’s decision will have a substantial impact on a civil service law, rule, regulation, or policy directive. If the Director did not intervene in a matter before the Board, the Director may not petition for review of a Board decision under this section unless the Director first petitions the Board for a reconsideration of its decision, and such petition is denied. In addition to the named respondent, the Board and all other parties to the proceedings before the Board shall have the right to appear in the proceeding before the Court of Appeals. The granting of the petition for judicial review shall be at the discretion of the Court of Appeals.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H1C3F3086E19E4DE09DD6B01FB00A4886" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>During the 2-year period beginning on the effective date of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012, this paragraph shall apply to any review obtained by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management that raises no challenge to the Board’s disposition of allegations of a prohibited personnel practice described in section 2302(b) other than practices described in section 2302(b)(8), or 2302(b)(9) (A)(i), (B), (C), or (D). The Director may obtain review of any final order or decision of the Board by filing, within 60 days after the Board issues notice of the final order or decision of the Board, a petition for judicial review in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or any court of appeals of competent jurisdiction if the Director determines, in the discretion of the Director, that the Board erred in interpreting a civil service law, rule, or regulation affecting personnel management and that the Board’s decision will have a substantial impact on a civil service law, rule, regulation, or policy directive. If the Director did not intervene in a matter before the Board, the Director may not petition for review of a Board decision under this section unless the Director first petitions the Board for a reconsideration of its decision, and such petition is denied. In addition to the named respondent, the Board and all other parties to the proceedings before the Board shall have the right to appear in the proceeding before the court of appeals. The granting of the petition for judicial review shall be at the discretion of the court of appeals.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H329EA1875CD94F91A70C5E8AC4B93669" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>109.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prohibited Personnel Practices affecting the Transportation Security Administration</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H405B4E5894CA44B4B072F08FA4C292F9"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chapter 23 of title 5, United States Code, is amended—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE76F07976AEC4E4B8ACD4028B7FB4F91"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating sections 2304 and 2305 as sections 2305 and 2306, respectively; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9FB0D62DCAF84D0B96BC6F7E7AB859C6"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after section 2303 the following:</text> <quoted-block act-name="" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD9BA06812EAB4FDCB5855D6CE75368C0" style="USC"> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA5711EC8FBE64306B119FB4ECA8566BE" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>2304.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prohibited personnel practices affecting the Transportation Security Administration</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA3457E4ADE754D9F88AD9F07873CAE6F"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any individual holding or applying for a position within the Transportation Security Administration shall be covered by—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEB96C0B49737462B865F231BD9EE2281"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the provisions of section 2302(b) (1), (8), and (9);</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H516114B495AD447FA2AA9A2452FED84E"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any provision of law implementing section 2302(b) (1), (8), or (9) by providing any right or remedy available to an employee or applicant for employment in the civil service; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAE34FB25D04041098BBD83BB64B81112"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any rule or regulation prescribed under any provision of law referred to in paragraph (1) or (2).</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDC5B5DDF709241729314FBD0A8C88E97"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rule of construction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any rights, apart from those described in subsection (a), to which an individual described in subsection (a) might otherwise be entitled under law.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7F624908C65A48B98922618ECBC98CCF"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Technical and conforming amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections for chapter 23 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by striking the items relating to sections 2304 and 2305, respectively, and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF7C7F7D6E1DE4ABEAF9886E0D4ECDAAF" style="OLC"> <toc> <toc-entry bold="off" level="section">2304. Prohibited personnel practices affecting the Transportation Security Administration.</toc-entry> <toc-entry bold="off" level="section">2305. Responsibility of the Government Accountability Office.</toc-entry> <toc-entry bold="off" level="section">2306. Coordination with certain other provisions of law.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H85A81897A7784861A6F0AF9C9FCF778F"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effective date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of enactment of this section.</text></subsection></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC0BA06B6A3714EB992E7680D652645E8" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>110.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Disclosure of censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H58C0A9724F1A4883A65A2C342B339ABA"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBA4F188B3A4445289FC8AEA422D24F8D"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>agency</term> has the meaning given under section 2302(a)(2)(C) of title 5, United States Code;</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H40FDE70423384AC295CE5B1F8E21A3E7"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>applicant</term> means an applicant for a covered position;</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAA12FB47BA0048F8A0FD7668A01DDC60"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information</term> means any effort to distort, misrepresent, or suppress research, analysis, or technical information;</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE03569D75C484AFBBCA17FF47144C141"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>covered position</term> has the meaning given under section 2302(a)(2)(B) of title 5, United States Code;</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF9ACAC5F161C41CF96A5DB12798E7BD5"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>employee</term> means an employee in a covered position in an agency; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2DBD5A5830B94DE082CC47365983CE74"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the term <term>disclosure</term> has the meaning given under section 2302(a)(2)(D) of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8E84D80CAEA5491B85193BBEE28B10A7"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Protected disclosure</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF0D3579E74D146E6A09C48D081401BAC"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any disclosure of information by an employee or applicant for employment that the employee or applicant reasonably believes is evidence of censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H91C4553FA1334A7DBD1701664BB884C9"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall come within the protections of section 2302(b)(8)(A) of title 5, United States Code, if—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H717D8F7DA49C4B06831C85BAB84041ED"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the employee or applicant reasonably believes that the censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information is or will cause—</text> <subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H65CD62C5F4EC4D89B2D9BEE7D1716A33"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any violation of law, rule, or regulation; or</text></subclause> <subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFBC9676716BE49B3A7FBDC0E2D05AF30"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; and</text></subclause></clause> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H52397DDDDBD74B019197ABC91AF38AF5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such disclosure is not specifically prohibited by law or such information is not specifically required by Executive order to be kept classified in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs; and</text></clause></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3E51DF33028345FAB3118B55EF4CAD59"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall come within the protections of section 2302(b)(8)(B) of title 5, United States Code, if—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDAB37482418F4539A4A8C938787EEDEB"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the employee or applicant reasonably believes that the censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information is or will cause—</text> <subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD212A4D1BF7445088736C8A19F7EB09A"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any violation of law, rule, or regulation; or</text></subclause> <subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H913374EBD1654046A7E8D7B8FE1D582E"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; and</text></subclause></clause> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H02AD903FB63E43E38CA6A476B176DAB7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the disclosure is made to the Special Counsel, or to the Inspector General of an agency or another person designated by the head of the agency to receive such disclosures, consistent with the protection of sources and methods.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H43114B7DD26144948A010A344C609EFA"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Disclosures not excluded</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A disclosure shall not be excluded from paragraph (1) for any reason described under section 2302(f)(1) or (2) of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3931D90F29C94709A0B6CA0C6899B040"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rule of construction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this section shall be construed to imply any limitation on the protections of employees and applicants afforded by any other provision of law, including protections with respect to any disclosure of information believed to be evidence of censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4D8EB963BEBA4418A88F600FF3B04A87" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>111.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clarification of whistleblower rights for critical infrastructure information</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 214(c) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 133(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: <quote>For purposes of this section a permissible use of independently obtained information includes the disclosure of such information under section 2302(b)(8) of title 5, United States Code.</quote>.</text></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H9B564B3A4610432F9FBCE15D8111DA16" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>112.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Advising employees of rights</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 2302(c) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting <quote>, including how to make a lawful disclosure of information that is specifically required by law or Executive order to be kept classified in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs to the Special Counsel, the Inspector General of an agency, Congress, or other agency employee designated to receive such disclosures</quote> after <quote>chapter 12 of this title</quote>.</text></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB6F2A160871742C2B051F12E78310F37" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>113.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Special Counsel amicus curiae appearance</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1212 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCBB3E84061674B228C264904AAD25392" style="OLC"> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC83A4A1D573B4BFCA7415B5825A0B7CD"><enum>(h)</enum> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H0AF8BA70C01E465B8CE7404821B3EFBA"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Special Counsel is authorized to appear as amicus curiae in any action brought in a court of the United States related to section 2302(b) (8) or (9), or as otherwise authorized by law. In any such action, the Special Counsel is authorized to present the views of the Special Counsel with respect to compliance with section 2302(b) (8) or (9) and the impact court decisions would have on the enforcement of such provisions of law.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1C0A1C0F7A1949569045378822CED70D" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A court of the United States shall grant the application of the Special Counsel to appear in any such action for the purposes described under subsection (a).</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H132B88D9CB364414A22CFE1A5A0CF676" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>114.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Scope of due process</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC429A7BBF37C4524AB34831780A13829"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Special counsel</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1214(b)(4)(B)(ii) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting <quote>, after a finding that a protected disclosure was a contributing factor,</quote> after <quote>ordered if</quote>.</text></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDA9283D3DE914894815C1B044DA76708"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Individual action</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1221(e)(2) of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting <quote>, after a finding that a protected disclosure was a contributing factor,</quote> after <quote>ordered if</quote>.</text></subsection></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1E029D2B8DF34C5897C3B2C4ED9CB071" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>115.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nondisclosure policies, forms, and agreements</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF5D9A58B15FC46DCA1BF614932D450DF"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H22EC7AE9C2F8432ABE23E0276A938DCB"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Requirement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each agreement in Standard Forms 312 and 4414 of the Government and any other nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement of the Government shall contain the following statement: <quote>These provisions are consistent with and do not supersede, conflict with, or otherwise alter the employee obligations, rights, or liabilities created by existing statute or Executive order relating to (1) classified information, (2) communications to Congress, (3) the reporting to an Inspector General of a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, or (4) any other whistleblower protection. The definitions, requirements, obligations, rights, sanctions, and liabilities created by controlling Executive orders and statutory provisions are incorporated into this agreement and are controlling.</quote>.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD0ADD0666D4C4E2B850DDB807387FB44"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Agency websites</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Agencies making use of any nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement shall also post the statement required under paragraph (1) on the agency website, accompanied by the specific list of controlling Executive orders and statutory provisions.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC578FFB524334A2182558BE305BFE501"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Enforceability</header> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC332313631614215AD27CB77C6221F23"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement described under paragraph (1) that does not contain the statement required under paragraph (1) may not be implemented or enforced to the extent such policy, form, or agreement is inconsistent with that statement.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H948564CF3B5847C1ADD40BFC7746AFC5"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement in effect before the effective date</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">With respect to a nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement that was in effect before the effective date of this Act, but that does not contain the statement required under paragraph (1) for implementation or enforcement—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1B5E3FD99D3E4411B72FF7D253A773E7"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">it shall not be a prohibited personnel practice to enforce that policy, form, or agreement with regard to a current employee if the agency gives such employee notice of the statement; and</text></clause> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC722E996C81248468887C76ADC22C66B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">it shall not be a prohibited personnel practice to enforce that policy, form, or agreement after the effective date of this Act with regard to a former employee if the agency complies with paragraph (2).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HBB39D443255747238097C6C9383772DE"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Persons other than Government employees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding subsection (a), a nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement that is to be executed by a person connected with the conduct of an intelligence or intelligence-related activity, other than an employee or officer of the United States Government, may contain provisions appropriate to the particular activity for which such document is to be used. Such policy, form, or agreement shall, at a minimum, require that the person will not disclose any classified information received in the course of such activity unless specifically authorized to do so by the United States Government. Such nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement shall also make it clear that such forms do not bar disclosures to Congress or to an authorized official of an executive agency or the Department of Justice that are essential to reporting a substantial violation of law, consistent with the protection of sources and methods.</text></subsection></section> <section id="HF3FFA233E6A541108D97DEE299D9DE97"><enum>116.</enum><header>Reporting requirements</header> <subsection id="H3CB1F7782A284DC18992099F6A94C774"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Government Accountability Office</header> <paragraph id="H2EFB85C3D1964525B3D6D7BD20BD627B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives on the implementation of this title.</text></paragraph> <paragraph id="H7F9E7549B298433AB3208B1BF1797584"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents</header><text>The report under this subsection shall include—</text> <subparagraph id="HB1415546038A45618A1941FAC4A67992"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an analysis of any changes in the number of cases filed with the Merit Systems Protection Board alleging violations of section 2302(b)(8) or (9) of title 5, United States Code, since the effective date of this Act;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H915B4771B32E4DA89182AF8F0EBFD799"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the outcome of the cases described under subparagraph (A), including whether or not the Merit Systems Protection Board, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, or any other court determined the allegations to be frivolous or malicious as well as a recommendation whether Congress should grant the Merit Systems Protection Board summary judgment authority for cases described under subparagraph (A);</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H6F14708064B2461B96CAE0C2F721A19E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a recommendation regarding whether Congress should grant jurisdiction for some subset of cases described under subparagraph (A) to be decided by a district court of the United States and an evaluation of the impact that would have on the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Federal court system; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H2D6F36B4EED94772A5DD62A3F106CCF1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>any other matter as determined by the Comptroller General.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection> <subsection id="HF12CBC6CBB5A42D9907D6069095FB92A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Merit systems protection board</header> <paragraph id="H1473BAFD3689451D8DF30CBAA26E8C0D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each report submitted annually by the Merit Systems Protection Board under section 1116 of title 31, United States Code, shall, with respect to the period covered by such report, include as an addendum the following:</text> <subparagraph id="H6F1B138714544945B95BD7F3485089C6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Information relating to the outcome of cases decided by the Merit Systems Protection Board during the period covered by such report in which violations of section 2302(b)(8) or (9)(A)(i), (B)(i), (C), or (D) of title 5, United States Code, were alleged.</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph id="H99CC566480854444B166D1E2837F7828"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The number of such cases filed in the regional and field offices, and the number of petitions for review filed in such cases, during the period covered by such report, and the outcomes of any such cases or petitions for review (irrespective of when filed) decided during such period.</text></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph id="HA096578346E94D088F4E4AAF2CE6D26C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>First report</header><text>The first report described under paragraph (1) submitted after the date of enactment of this Act shall include an addendum required under that paragraph that covers the period beginning on the effective date of this Act and ending at the end of the fiscal year in which such effective date occurs.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7A8AE545C739469F9EBB3DCE72CA2491" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>117.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whistleblower protection ombudsman</header> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0EAD2D89711A469F9D877505655FD5E9"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 3 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2E846B947BD34471AAF16742F5A34D6E" style="OLC"> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4635788C1F6044AC9ED925FA8F3F926D"><enum>(d)</enum> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H4208ED903C2A41D7988EA80CEC57887C"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each Inspector General shall, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations governing the civil service—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8142659DA8594095A5B4CB718D758007" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">appoint an Assistant Inspector General for Auditing who shall have the responsibility for supervising the performance of auditing activities relating to programs and operations of the establishment;</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF4A7A782D5C0462DB44F40F9F33B9F91" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">appoint an Assistant Inspector General for Investigations who shall have the responsibility for supervising the performance of investigative activities relating to such programs and operations; and</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H08E8F2BB40C947C4B1D766A918C98236" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">designate a Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman who shall educate agency employees—</text> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H5D728AF984CC4E8FA61788455F6E2A35"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">about prohibitions on retaliation for protected disclosures; and</text></clause> <clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H58AB29AF4941431C9597F86F940FE04F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">who have made or are contemplating making a protected disclosure about the rights and remedies against retaliation for protected disclosures.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC9ED404495C64837AF8D65052C74AB0C" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman shall not act as a legal representative, agent, or advocate of the employee or former employee.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAD14C62EA493481AA74B3167508E35A2" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For the purposes of this section, the requirement of the designation of a Whistleblower Protection Ombudsman under paragraph (1)(C) shall not apply to—</text> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCEF1C546D18646868B4E353EF95CEFA0"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any agency that is an element of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(4))); or</text></subparagraph> <subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEAD2E66D5DBD4E2E9B85C0DC1550C8AE"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">as determined by the President, any executive agency or unit thereof the principal function of which is the conduct of foreign intelligence or counter intelligence activities.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H948DDB14063845898C1170C4BE5B5D3C"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Technical and conforming amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 8D(j) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended—</text> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H912DBB1716FA4758A7246A341EA02F6A"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>section 3(d)(1)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 3(d)(1)(A)</quote>; and</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1EDAF20668CC41E3A81A33E1A5BEA1F8"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>section 3(d)(2)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 3(d)(1)(B)</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection> <subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF7C0246EBF3A4F06A9A8A2754C8D250F"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sunset</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1FBB1ED428884225B4E141F7902895FF"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The amendments made by this section shall cease to have effect on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE605AA76039A42C48C787AF2A9898CE1"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Return to prior authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon the date described in paragraph (1), section 3(d) and section 8D(j) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) shall read as such sections read on the day before the date of enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph></subsection></section> <enum>II</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Savings clause; Effective date</header> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE8309722542744E2A71FA4F22125964F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Savings clause</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Nothing in this Act shall be construed to imply any limitation on any protections afforded by any other provision of law to employees and applicants.</text></section> <section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2ABE837B705C416ABC2EEAFBCA89A056" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>202.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effective date</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Except as otherwise provided in section 109, this Act shall take effect 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></section> Lorraine MillerClerk.