[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 16716]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                CRIMINAL ANTITRUST ANTI-RETALIATION ACT

  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I am pleased that the Senate passed 
yesterday bipartisan legislation that will improve the enforcement of 
the antitrust laws. The bipartisan Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation 
Act extends whistleblower protections to employees who report criminal 
violations of the antitrust laws. These kinds of violations, which 
include price fixing, have a particularly pernicious impact on 
consumers.
  This legislation represents a continuation of my partnership with 
Senator Grassley on whistleblower issues. Senator Grassley has long 
been an advocate for protecting those who blow the whistle on wasteful 
or criminal conduct. Our bill is modeled on whistleblower protections 
that he and I authored as part of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Criminal 
Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act does not provide employees with an 
economic incentive to report violations. The legislation simply makes 
whole employees who have been fired or discriminated against for 
blowing the whistle on criminal conduct.
  Whistleblower protection was recommended by the Government 
Accountability Office, GAO, in a 2011 report to Congress. The GAO 
surveyed an array of stakeholders and found widespread support for the 
kind of basic protections contained in this legislation. The bill 
allows employees who have reported a criminal violation to file an 
action with the Department of Labor if they have been fired or 
otherwise discriminated against for disclosing the violation. While the 
remedies provided by the bill are limited, they are crucial in 
protecting employees from retaliation.
  The antitrust laws exist to promote a free and open marketplace and 
serve to protect consumers. These laws can only be effective if they 
are vigorously enforced. The Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act 
will aid in enforcement efforts and ensure that consumers are protected 
from harmful activity. I urge the House to act quickly to pass this 
important bill.

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