    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 115-192
    115th Congress

    An Act

    To reauthorize and rename the position of Whistleblower Ombudsman to be
    the Whistleblower Protection Coordinator. <>

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
    United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
    SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Whistleblower Protection Coordination
    Act''.
    SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 3(d) of the Inspector General Act of 1978
    (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended--
    (1) in paragraph (1)(C)--
    (A) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as
    subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and adjusting the
    margins accordingly;
    (B) by striking ``Ombudsman who shall educate agency
    employees--'' and inserting the following: ``Coordinator
    who shall--
    ``(i) educate agency employees--'';
    (C) in subclause (I), as so redesignated, by
    striking ``on retaliation'' and inserting ``against
    retaliation'';
    (D) in subclause (II), as so redesignated, by
    striking the period at the end and inserting the
    following: ``, including--
    ``(aa) the means by which employees
    may seek review of any allegation of
    reprisal, including the roles of the
    Office of the Inspector General, the
    Office of Special Counsel, the Merit
    Systems Protection Board, and any other
    relevant entities; and
    ``(bb) general information about the
    timeliness of such cases, the
    availability of any alternative dispute
    mechanisms, and avenues for potential
    relief.''; and
    (E) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(ii) assist the Inspector General in promoting the
    timely and appropriate handling and consideration of
    protected disclosures and allegations of reprisal, to
    the extent practicable, by the Inspector General; and
    ``(iii) assist the Inspector General in facilitating
    communication and coordination with the Special Counsel,
    the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and
    Efficiency, the establishment, Congress, and any other
    relevant

    [[Page 1503]]

    entity regarding the timely and appropriate handling and
    consideration of protected disclosures, allegations of
    reprisal, and general matters regarding the
    implementation and administration of whistleblower
    protection laws, rules, and regulations.'';
    (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Ombudsman'' and
    inserting ``Coordinator'';
    (3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
    (4) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
    ``(3) The Whistleblower Protection Coordinator shall have
    direct access to the Inspector General as needed to accomplish
    the requirements of this subsection.''.

    (b) Responsibilities of CIGIE.--Section 11(c) of the Inspector
    General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the
    following:
    ``(5) Additional responsibilities relating to whistleblower
    protection.--The Council shall--
    ``(A) facilitate the work of the Whistleblower
    Protection Coordinators designated under section
    3(d)(C); and
    ``(B) <>  in consultation with
    the Office of Special Counsel and Whistleblower
    Protection Coordinators from the member offices of the
    Inspector General, develop best practices for
    coordination and communication in promoting the timely
    and appropriate handling and consideration of protected
    disclosures, allegations of reprisal, and general
    matters regarding the implementation and administration
    of whistleblower protection laws, in accordance with
    Federal law.''.

    (c) Reporting.--Section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5
    U.S.C. App.) is amended--
    (1) in subsection (a), by amending paragraph (20) to read as
    follows:
    ``(20)(A) a detailed description of any instance of
    whistleblower retaliation, including information about the
    official found to have engaged in retaliation; and
    ``(B) what, if any, consequences the establishment actually
    imposed to hold the official described in subparagraph (A)
    accountable;''; and
    (2) in subsection (b)--
    (A) in paragraph (3)(D), by striking ``and'' at the
    end;
    (B) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5);
    and
    (C) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
    ``(4) whether the establishment entered into a settlement
    agreement with the official described in subsection (a)(20)(A),
    which shall be reported regardless of any confidentiality
    agreement relating to the settlement agreement; and''.

    (d) Repeal of Sunset.--
    (1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 117 of the
    Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 (Public Law
    112-199; 126 Stat. 1475) is repealed.

    [[Page 1504]]

    (2) <>  Retroactive effective
    date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on
    November 26, 2017.

    Approved June 25, 2018.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1869 (H.R. 4043):
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115-510 (Comm. on Oversight and Government Reform)
    accompanying H.R. 4043.
    SENATE REPORTS: No. 115-196 (Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental
    Affairs).
    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
    Mar. 15, considered and passed Senate.
    June 7, considered and passed House.