<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/css" href="uslm.css"?><bill xmlns="http://schemas.gpo.gov/xml/uslm" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xml:lang="en" xsi:schemaLocation="http://schemas.gpo.gov/xml/uslm https://www.govinfo.gov/schemas/xml/uslm/uslm-2.0.10.xsd">
<!--Disclaimer: Legislative measures that include compacts or other non-standard data structures will require additional modeling and may contain inconsistencies in the converted USLM XML.-->
<meta><dc:title>115 S 1869 ENR: To reauthorize and rename the position of Whistleblower Ombudsman to be the Whistleblower Protection Coordinator.</dc:title>
<dc:type>Senate Bill</dc:type><docNumber>1869</docNumber><citableAs>115 S 1869 ENR</citableAs>
<citableAs>115s1869enr</citableAs>
<citableAs>115 S. 1869 ENR</citableAs>
<dc:creator>United States Senate</dc:creator><dc:publisher>United States Government Publishing Office</dc:publisher><dc:format>text/xml</dc:format><dc:language>EN</dc:language><dc:rights>Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.</dc:rights><docStage>ENR</docStage>
<processedBy>GPO Locator to USLM Converter 3.11.8;Stage2.20220127</processedBy><processedDate>2023-01-03</processedDate>
<congress>115</congress><session>2</session><publicPrivate>public</publicPrivate>
</meta>
<preface><dc:type>S.</dc:type><docNumber>1869</docNumber>

<congress style="-uslm-lc:I665502" value="115">One Hundred Fifteenth Congress of the United States of America</congress><session style="-uslm-lc:I665503" value="2">A T T  H  E S  E  C  O  N  D S  E  S  S  I  O  N</session>
<enrolledDateline style="-uslm-lc:I665504">Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, the third day of January, two thousand and eighteen</enrolledDateline>
</preface>
<main>
<longTitle>
<docTitle class="centered fontsize18" style="-uslm-lc:I665505">An Act</docTitle>
<officialTitle class="centered fontsize8" style="-uslm-lc:I665511">To reauthorize and rename the position of Whistleblower Ombudsman to be the Whistleblower Protection Coordinator.<?GPOvSpace 08?></officialTitle>
</longTitle>
<enactingFormula style="-uslm-lc:I650120">  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa­tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,</enactingFormula>
<section id="d37657e62" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s1" style="-uslm-lc:I650146"><num value="1">SECTION 1. </num><heading>SHORT TITLE.</heading><content style="-uslm-lc:I650120">  This Act may be cited as the “<shortTitle role="act">Whistleblower Protection Coordination Act</shortTitle>”.</content></section>
<section id="d37657e72" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2" style="-uslm-lc:I650141"><num value="2">SEC. 2. </num><heading>REAUTHORIZATION.</heading><subsection class="indentUp0 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e76" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/a" role="instruction" style="-uslm-lc:I650120"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="a">(a) </num><heading><inline class="smallCaps">In General</inline>.—</heading><chapeau>Section 3(d) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (<ref href="/us/usc/t5/app">5 U.S.C. App.</ref>) <amendingAction type="amend">is amended</amendingAction>—</chapeau><paragraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e91" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/a/1" style="-uslm-lc:I650122"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="1">(1) </num><chapeau>in paragraph (1)(C)—</chapeau><subparagraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e95" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/a/1/A" style="-uslm-lc:I650124"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="A">(A) </num><content>by <amendingAction type="redesignate">redesignating</amendingAction> clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;</content></subparagraph><subparagraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e103" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/a/1/B" style="-uslm-lc:I650124"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="B">(B) </num><content>by <amendingAction type="delete">striking</amendingAction> “<quotedText>Ombudsman who shall educate agency employees—</quotedText>” and <amendingAction type="insert">inserting</amendingAction> the following: <quotedContent>“Coordinator who shall—<clause class="indentUp2 firstIndent1 fontsize10" style="-uslm-lc:I650124"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="i">“(i) </num><content>educate agency employees—”</content></clause></quotedContent>;</content></subparagraph><subparagraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e121" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/a/1/C" style="-uslm-lc:I650124"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="C">(C) </num><content>in subclause (I), as so redesignated, by <amendingAction type="delete">striking</amendingAction> “<quotedText>on retaliation</quotedText>” and <amendingAction type="insert">inserting</amendingAction> “<quotedText>against retaliation</quotedText>”;</content></subparagraph><subparagraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e132" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/a/1/D" style="-uslm-lc:I650124"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="D">(D) </num><content>in subclause (II), as so redesignated, by <amendingAction type="delete">striking</amendingAction> the period at the end and <amendingAction type="insert">inserting</amendingAction> the following: <quotedContent>“, including—<item class="indentUp4 firstIndent1 fontsize10" style="-uslm-lc:I650128"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="aa">“(aa) </num><content>the means by which employees may seek review of any allegation of reprisal, including the roles of the Office of the Inspector General, the Office of Special Counsel, the Merit Systems Protection Board, and any other relevant entities; and</content></item><item class="indentUp4 firstIndent1 fontsize10" style="-uslm-lc:I650128"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="bb">“(bb) </num><content>general information about the timeliness of such cases, the availability of any alternative dispute mechanisms, and avenues for potential relief.”</content></item></quotedContent>; and</content></subparagraph><subparagraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e154" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/a/1/E" style="-uslm-lc:I650124"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="E">(E) </num><content>by <amendingAction type="add">adding</amendingAction> at the end the following:<quotedContent><clause class="indentUp2 firstIndent1 fontsize10" style="-uslm-lc:I650124"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="ii">“(ii) </num><content>assist the Inspector General in promoting the timely and appropriate handling and consideration of protected disclosures and allegations of reprisal, to the extent practicable, by the Inspector General; and</content></clause><clause class="indentUp2 firstIndent1 fontsize10" style="-uslm-lc:I650124"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="iii">“(iii) </num><content>assist the Inspector General in facilitating communication and coordination with the Special Counsel, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, the establishment, Congress, and any other relevant entity regarding the timely and appropriate handling and consideration of protected disclosures, allegations of reprisal, and general matters regarding the implementation and administration of whistleblower protection laws, rules, and regulations.”</content></clause></quotedContent>;</content></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e172" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/a/2" style="-uslm-lc:I650122"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="2">(2) </num><content>in paragraph (2), by <amendingAction type="delete">striking</amendingAction> “<quotedText>Ombudsman</quotedText>” and <amendingAction type="insert">inserting</amendingAction> “<quotedText>Coordinator</quotedText>”;</content></paragraph><paragraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e183" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/a/3" style="-uslm-lc:I650122"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="3">(3) </num><content>by <amendingAction type="redesignate">redesignating</amendingAction> paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and</content></paragraph><paragraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e191" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/a/4" style="-uslm-lc:I650122"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="4">(4) </num><content>by <amendingAction type="insert">inserting</amendingAction> after paragraph (2) the following:<quotedContent><paragraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" style="-uslm-lc:I650122"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="3">“(3) </num><content>The Whistleblower Protection Coordinator shall have direct access to the Inspector General as needed to accomplish the requirements of this subsection.”</content></paragraph></quotedContent>.</content></paragraph></subsection><subsection class="indentUp0 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e205" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/b" role="instruction" style="-uslm-lc:I650120"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="b">(b) </num><heading><inline class="smallCaps">Responsibilities of CIGIE</inline>.—</heading><content>Section 11(c) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (<ref href="/us/usc/t5/app">5 U.S.C. App.</ref>) <amendingAction type="amend">is amended</amendingAction> by <amendingAction type="add">adding</amendingAction> at the end the following:<quotedContent><paragraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" style="-uslm-lc:I650122"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="5">“(5) </num><heading><inline class="smallCaps">Additional responsibilities relating to whistleblower protection</inline>.—</heading><chapeau>The Council shall—</chapeau><subparagraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" style="-uslm-lc:I650124"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="A">“(A) </num><content>facilitate the work of the Whistleblower Protection Coordinators designated under section 3(d)(C); and</content></subparagraph><subparagraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" style="-uslm-lc:I650124"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="B">“(B) </num><content>in consultation with the Office of Special Counsel and Whistleblower Protection Coordinators from the member offices of the Inspector General, develop best practices for coordination and communication in promoting the timely and appropriate handling and consideration of protected disclosures, allegations of reprisal, and general matters regarding the implementation and administration of whistleblower protection laws, in accordance with Federal law.”</content></subparagraph></paragraph></quotedContent>.</content></subsection><subsection class="indentUp0 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e241" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/c" role="instruction" style="-uslm-lc:I650120"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="c">(c) </num><heading><inline class="smallCaps">Reporting</inline>.—</heading><chapeau>Section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (<ref href="/us/usc/t5/app">5 U.S.C. App.</ref>) <amendingAction type="amend">is amended</amendingAction>—</chapeau><paragraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e256" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/c/1" style="-uslm-lc:I650122"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="1">(1) </num><content>in subsection (a), by <amendingAction type="amend">amending</amendingAction> paragraph (20) to read as follows:<quotedContent><paragraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" style="-uslm-lc:I650122"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="20">“(20)</num><subparagraph class="inline"><num value="A">(A) </num><content>a detailed description of any instance of whistleblower retaliation, including information about the official found to have engaged in retaliation; and</content></subparagraph><subparagraph class="indentUp0 firstIndent1 fontsize10" style="-uslm-lc:I650122"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="B">“(B) </num><content>what, if any, consequences the establishment actually imposed to hold the official described in subparagraph (A) accountable;”</content></subparagraph></paragraph></quotedContent>; and</content></paragraph><paragraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e277" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/c/2" style="-uslm-lc:I650122"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="2">(2) </num><chapeau>in subsection (b)—</chapeau><subparagraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e281" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/c/2/A" style="-uslm-lc:I650124"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="A">(A) </num><content>in paragraph (3)(D), by <amendingAction type="delete">striking</amendingAction> “<quotedText>and</quotedText>” at the end;</content></subparagraph><subparagraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e289" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/c/2/B" style="-uslm-lc:I650124"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="B">(B) </num><content>by <amendingAction type="redesignate">redesignating</amendingAction> paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and</content></subparagraph><subparagraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e297" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/c/2/C" style="-uslm-lc:I650124"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="C">(C) </num><content>by <amendingAction type="insert">inserting</amendingAction> after paragraph (3) the following:<quotedContent><paragraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" style="-uslm-lc:I650122"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="4">“(4) </num><content>whether the establishment entered into a settlement agreement with the official described in subsection (a)(20)(A), which shall be reported regardless of any confidentiality agreement relating to the settlement agreement; and”</content></paragraph></quotedContent>.</content></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection class="indentUp0 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e311" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/d" style="-uslm-lc:I650120"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="d">(d) </num><heading><inline class="smallCaps">Repeal of Sunset</inline>.—</heading><paragraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e318" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/d/1" role="instruction" style="-uslm-lc:I650122"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="1">(1) </num><heading><inline class="smallCaps">In general</inline>.—</heading><content>Subsection (c) of section 117 of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 (<ref href="/us/pl/112/199">Public Law 112–199</ref>; <ref href="/us/stat/126/1475">126 Stat. 1475</ref>) is <amendingAction type="repeal">repealed</amendingAction>.</content></paragraph><paragraph class="indentUp1 firstIndent1 fontsize10" id="d37657e336" identifier="/us/bill/115/s/1869/s2/d/2" style="-uslm-lc:I650122"><num style="-uslm-lc:emspace2" value="2">(2) </num><heading><inline class="smallCaps">Retroactive effective date</inline>.—</heading><content>The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on November 26, 2017.</content></paragraph></subsection></section>
</main>
<signatures>
<signature><role style="-uslm-lc:I650114">Speaker of the House of Representatives.</role></signature>
<signature><role style="-uslm-lc:I650114">Vice President of the United States and  President of the Senate.</role></signature>
</signatures>
</bill>