[114th Congress Public Law 261]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 130 STAT. 1362]]

Public Law 114-261
114th Congress

                                 An Act


 
     To enhance whistleblower protection for contractor and grantee 
             employees. <<NOTE: Dec. 14, 2016 -  [S. 795]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ENHANCEMENT OF WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION FOR CONTRACTOR 
                              AND GRANTEE EMPLOYEES.

    (a) Protection for Employees of Grantees and Subgrantees.--
            (1) Defense grants.--Section 2409(a)(1) of title 10, United 
        States Code, is amended by inserting ``or personal services 
        contractor'' after ``subgrantee''.
            (2) Civilian grants.--Section 4712(a)(1) of title 41, United 
        States Code, is amended by striking ``or grantee'' and inserting 
        ``grantee, or subgrantee or personal services contractor''.
            (3) Permanent extension of pilot program for enhancement of 
        contractor protection from reprisal for disclosure of certain 
        information.--
                    (A) In general.--Section 4712 of title 41, United 
                States Code, is amended--
                          (i) in the section heading by striking ``Pilot 
                      program for enhancement'' and inserting 
                      ``Enhancement''; and
                          (ii) by striking subsection (i).
                    (B) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at 
                the beginning of chapter 47 of title 41, United 
                States <<NOTE: 47 USC prec. 4701.>>  Code, is amended by 
                striking the item relating to section 4712 and inserting 
                the following new item:

``4712. Enhancement of contractor protection from reprisal for 
           disclosure of certain information.''.

    (b) Prohibition on Reimbursement for Legal Fees Accrued in Defense 
Against Reprisal Claims.--
            (1) Defense contracts.--Section 2324(k) of title 10, United 
        States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by inserting ``or subcontractor, or personal 
                services contractor'' after ``contractor'' each place it 
                appears;
                    (B) by inserting ``, subcontract, or personal 
                services contract'' after ``contract'' each place it 
                appears; and
                    (C) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or to any other 
                activity described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of 
                section 2409(a)(1) of this title'' after ``statute or 
                regulation''.
            (2) Civilian contracts.--
                    (A) In general.--Section 4310 of title 41, United 
                States Code, is amended--

[[Page 130 STAT. 1363]]

                          (i) by inserting ``, subcontractor, or 
                      personal services contractor'' after 
                      ``contractor'' each place it appears;
                          (ii) by inserting ``, subcontract, or personal 
                      services contract'' after ``contract'' each place 
                      it appears; and
                          (iii) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``or 
                      to any other activity described in section 
                      4712(a)(1) of this title'' after ``statute or 
                      regulation''.
                    (B) Conforming amendment.--Section 4304(a)(15) of 
                title 41, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
                ``or subcontractor, or personal service contractor'' 
                after ``contractor''.

    (c) <<NOTE: Applicability. 10 USC 2324 note.>>  Inclusion of 
Contract Clause in Contracts Awarded Before Effective Date.--At the time 
of any major modification to a contract that was awarded before the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the head of the contracting agency shall 
make best efforts to include in the contract a contract clause providing 
for the applicability of the amendments made by this section and section 
827 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 
(Public Law 112-239; 126 Stat. 1833).

    Approved December 14, 2016.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 795:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

SENATE REPORTS: No. 114-270 (Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016):
            June 23, considered and passed Senate.
            Dec. 5, considered and passed House.

                                  <all>