[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 134 (Friday, July 30, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E860-E861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN HONOR OF NATIONAL WHISTLEBLOWER APPRECIATION DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 30, 2021

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to salute whistleblowers and 
to mark a day of appreciation for their critical contribution to 
American justice and to the safety and security of us all. 
Whistleblowers, among other things, keep companies that do business 
with the federal government honest and accountable. Working from 
confidential tips and insights provided by whistleblowers in qui tam 
cases, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recovers billions of 
dollars annually under the False Claims Act. Over a recent four-year 
period, the government recovered $11.4 billion in fraud prosecutions 
and distributed more than $1.54 billion in whistleblower reward 
payments.

[[Page E861]]

  For example, last year, a major toxicology laboratory was required to 
pay the government $12 million in a False Claims Act qui tam case when 
it was found to have paid unlawful kickbacks to a marketer and health 
care provider in exchange for referrals for urine drug tests. The 
whistleblower-inspired investigation also led to a criminal indictment 
of individuals involved in the scheme and the establishment of a five-
year Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Department of Health and 
Human Service's Office of Inspector General, which required the company 
to retain an Independent Review Organization to monitor its 
arrangements with individuals and other entities and to routinely 
report to the Office of Inspector General.
  Those who blow the whistle on federal contractors are typically 
awarded 15 to 30 percent of the funds recovered by DOJ. One whistle 
blower collected $4 million in a False Claims Act qui ram case on 
behalf of the government against two contractors that knowingly failed 
to comply with federal and state prevailing wage laws. The contractors 
agreed to correct their compensation practices, and their employees 
were paid back wages.
  In these cases, whistleblowers brought the fraud to light, companies 
were held accountable, taxpayer funds were recovered, future misconduct 
was averted, and workers were made whole.
  I want to thank my constituent Renee Brooker, partner at Tycko & 
Zavareei LLP and former Civil Frauds Assistant Director at DOJ for 
sharing her expertise on whistleblower law with my office.
  Today, on National Whistleblower Appreciation Day, I ask my 
colleagues to recognize whistleblowers and to encourage more 
individuals to become whistleblowers.

                          ____________________