[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 18 (Wednesday, February 27, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E213-E214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INTRODUCTION OF THE PAUL REVERE FREEDOM TO WARN ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 27, 2002

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, on the evening of April 18, 1775, Paul 
Revere bravely went out into the Massachusetts night to warn his fellow 
patriots of a threat they faced.
  The tyranny of the time dictated that if caught, Paul Revere would be 
hanged; he rode that night knowing that if caught, he would die.
  Today we have other Americans who take risks that are just as real to 
preserve our liberty. These brave men and women risk their jobs, their 
livelihoods, to ensure our safety. They are fighting for us. And so the 
least we can do is fight for them.
  I didn't come here to Washington to fight for the special interests. 
I came here to make sure the little guy was protected.
  In today's climate, we face new threats, threats of life and death. 
And despite these threats, there are still powerful interests that

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try to hide their mistakes and negligence rather than protect the 
public.
  When there are powerful interests trying to hide what they are doing, 
we have found that there is always a brave soul willing to step up and 
take the heat. We have seen that with the FAA and airline security. We 
have seen some of that with Enron. And yes, we saw that with the brave 
whistleblowers I met with this morning. They each stood up and fought 
for what was right and just.
  And all of them faced real heat and the intimidation that too often 
comes along with doing the right thing. All too often that heat isn't 
fair, and in fact, isn't even legal.
  The law is clear: according to the Lloyd-LaFollette Act, employers 
can't interfere with whistleblowers. Unfortunately, while the law is 
clear, it doesn't have any penalties if the act is violated. It has no 
teeth; it is like Paul Revere without a voice. The Paul Revere Freedom 
to Warn Act, which I will be introducing later today, protects 
employees who blow the whistle by allowing them to bring a civil action 
in federal courts with jury trials.
  These people have three years to bring these actions for lost wages 
and benefits, reinstatement, costs and attorney fees, compensatory or 
punitive damages, and any other relief that the courts believe are 
appropriate.
  This is just common sense; if something is against the law, then 
there has to be a price to pay if you violate the law.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for us all to stand up for the 
whistleblowers. They are the true patriots, and I want to thank them, 
salute them, and help them by introducing and passing the Paul Revere 
Freedom to Warn Act.
  I would like to thank the Government Accountability Project (GAP). In 
particular I want to thank Tom Devine and Doug Hartnett, for constantly 
keeping the issue of whistleblower protection before Congress.
  The price of liberty is eternal vigilance, and even though they only 
represent whistleblowers, they too serve as modern Paul Reveres through 
their work.
  The Government Accountability Project has been a very effective 
partner in laying the groundwork for this necessary legislation.

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