[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 19 (Thursday, February 28, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E239-E240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           PAUL REVERE FORUM

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 28, 2002

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, employees in the government and private 
sector who have refused to put personal comfort and profit above public 
safety represent true public service and patriotism. By speaking the 
truth and refusing to be silenced, they have prevented the spread of 
sickness and disease, disastrous environmental contamination, and 
unknown accidents on our highways, railroads and airways. 
Whistleblowers have saved the American taxpayer billions of dollars, 
and they have literally saved countless lives.
  These men and women usually do not think of themselves as being 
heroic. In many cases, they are just doing their jobs. We call them 
``whistleblowers,'' a label they are often reluctant to accept. They 
are reluctant for understandable reasons. Being a whistleblower usually 
means harassment, intimidation, and career-ending retaliation from 
those who stand to lose when the public learns the truth.
  On Wednesday, February 27, several public interest organizations 
hosted an event entitled ``The Paul Revere Forum: National Security 
Whistleblowers Speak.'' I am proud to be invited to address the 
whistleblowers and their supporters who will be in attendance. Paul 
Revere is not often thought of as a ``whistleblower,'' but for the 
security and freedom of the colonial citizens of Lexington and Concord, 
that is exactly what he was. Now, we again find ourselves in a period 
where National Security whistleblowers can play a critical role--in the 
war against terrorism.
  National Security whistleblowers have recently provided warnings 
about potential terrorist attacks by sounding the alarm about 
vulnerabilities that senior bureaucratic managers would prefer to cover 
up or ignore. The warnings have covered a vast array of official 
activities: security officers at nuclear laboratories, weapons 
facilities, waste dumps and power plants have for years warned that 
nuclear material is highly vulnerable to terrorist attack; FAA 
employees have come forward with similar concerns about the 
effectiveness of security technology as well as passenger screening 
practices; emergency management officials have exposed dramatic 
inadequacies of protections for our food supplies and evacuation plans, 
and Customs employees have pointed to weaknesses in our border 
security. These problems will become tragedies unless both public and 
private employees feel they can raise concerns without suffering 
retaliation.
  Since the tragedies of September 11, blowing the whistle is no longer 
only about protesting abuses of power, personal corruption or 
violations of regulations. It has a new dimension--it is about 
preserving the freedom to warn.

[[Page E240]]

  I have been an ardent advocate for whistleblower protections 
throughout my career in Congress. I am the sponsor of a bill, H.R. 
2588, that strengthens the original Whistleblower Protection Act. I 
supported passage of the NO FEAR Act, which actually came about due to 
the efforts of two of my constituents, Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo and 
Mr. Leroy Warren, Jr. In addition, I am an original cosponsor of 
Congressman Israel's legislation to improve whistleblower protections 
for national security personnel.
  I also want to thank the Government Accountability Project for 
keeping this issue in the public eye, in particular Tom Devine, Legal 
Director and Doug Hartnett, National Security Campaign Director.

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