Federal Bureau of Investigation Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2016
This bill revises whistle-blower protections for a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) employee or job applicant who discloses wrongdoing to an appropriate official.
Specifically, it prohibits an FBI or Department of Justice (DOJ) employee from taking or failing to take a personnel action (e.g., demotion) with respect to an FBI employee or applicant because of a protected disclosure. A protected disclosure is a disclosure of information to an appropriate official which an employee or applicant reasonably believes evidences: (1) a violation of a law, rule, or regulation; or (2) waste, fraud, or abuse. The bill expands the list of appropriate officials who may receive a protected disclosure to include a supervisor in an employee's direct chain of command.
Additionally, the bill sets forth procedures for filing, investigating, adjudicating, and reviewing whistle-blower retaliation complaints.
An FBI employee or applicant may file a complaint with DOJ's Office of Inspector General (OIG), which must investigate and decide whether reasonable grounds exist to believe that a prohibited personnel action occurred.
If either party files an objection to the OIG's decision, then an administrative law judge (ALJ) must review it, on the record, and issue a written decision. The ALJ's determination becomes final, unless it is appealed to or reviewed by DOJ. Any ALJ or DOJ determination is subject to judicial review.
Action Date | Type | Text | Source |
---|---|---|---|
2016-12-16 | President | Became Public Law No: 114-302. | House floor actions |
2016-12-16 | President | Signed by President. | House floor actions |
2016-12-15 | Floor | Presented to President. | House floor actions |
2016-12-12 | Floor | Message on Senate action sent to the House. | Senate |
2016-12-10 | Floor | Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S7128-7131) | Senate |
2016-12-07 | IntroReferral | Received in the Senate, read twice. | Senate |
2016-12-07 | Floor | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. | House floor actions |
2016-12-07 | Vote | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 404 - 0 (Roll no. 616). (text: CR H7312-7313) | House floor actions |
2016-12-07 | Floor | Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7326) | House floor actions |
2016-12-07 | Floor | At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. | House floor actions |
2016-12-07 | Floor | DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5790. | House floor actions |
2016-12-07 | Floor | Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7312-7313) | House floor actions |
2016-12-07 | Floor | Mr. Chaffetz moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. | House floor actions |
2016-11-29 | Calendars | Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 656. | House floor actions |
2016-11-29 | Committee | Reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 114-835. | House floor actions |
2016-09-15 | Committee | Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent. | House committee actions |
2016-09-15 | Committee | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held. | House committee actions |
2016-07-14 | IntroReferral | Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. | House floor actions |
2016-07-14 | IntroReferral | Introduced in House | Library of Congress |