1.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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFE38E6D7140C40EAB280AB9540F9B73D"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H090E813D3784447E99CA1337E987CD10"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF26CB0AC00DB4E049D6523E51D08B2EE" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>108.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Judicial review</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H427597BCB61E4E8D8C52061840E9B507"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE5548682C45141E699D392ED463665A3" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HC662D3903F634D2E84E10F0D697E1D94"><enum>(b)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H7B58DCD52C3C40D3A9BF604E93AC4044"><enum>(1)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HA5339B43EC5C482FB60C3E5BF3AD3C43"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HEE7028377DDF4E1E8183A46CA95E94E8" indent="up2"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3F789671A8E8445E86AFB328CCD69225"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Review obtained by Office of Personnel
Management</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 7703(d) of
title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H30583C26440A4FD3B7661B0659F605D4" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB112795E28DE473EBE666C10BBD403F5"><enum>(d)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H3F601B4036294B77A8535714745CFB58"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1C3F3086E19E4DE09DD6B01FB00A4886" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF3FFA233E6A541108D97DEE299D9DE97" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>116.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reporting requirements</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3CB1F7782A284DC18992099F6A94C774"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Government Accountability Office</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2EFB85C3D1964525B3D6D7BD20BD627B"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7F9E7549B298433AB3208B1BF1797584"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The report under this subsection shall
include—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB1415546038A45618A1941FAC4A67992"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H915B4771B32E4DA89182AF8F0EBFD799"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6F14708064B2461B96CAE0C2F721A19E"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2D6F36B4EED94772A5DD62A3F106CCF1"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other matter as determined by the
Comptroller General.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF12CBC6CBB5A42D9907D6069095FB92A"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Merit systems protection board</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1473BAFD3689451D8DF30CBAA26E8C0D"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6F1B138714544945B95BD7F3485089C6"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H99CC566480854444B166D1E2837F7828"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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 commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA096578346E94D088F4E4AAF2CE6D26C"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">First report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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>
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Vice President of the United States and President of the
Senate