Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017
This bill directs federal agencies (excluding any entity that is an element of the intelligence community) to give priority to an employee transfer request if the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) grants a stay of a personnel action at the request of: (1) the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) if the OSC determines the personnel action was taken, or is to be taken, as a result of a prohibited personnel practice; or (2) the employee if such employee is in probationary status and seeks corrective action.
The bill: (1) prohibits any employee who has the authority to take a personnel action to access the medical records of another employee or applicant for employment, (2) authorizes disciplinary action against supervisors for retaliation against whistleblowers.
Agencies must: (1) refer information about employee suicides to the OSC, (2) train supervisors on responding to complaints alleging whistleblower protections violations, (3) provide information regarding whistleblower protections to new employees during probationary periods, (4) inform employees of the role of the OSC and the MSPB with regard to whistleblower protection, and (5) make information about such protections available on agency websites.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must: (1) submit a plan to prevent unauthorized access to the medical records of VA employees; (2) conduct an outreach program to inform its employees of available mental health services, including telemedicine options; and (3) ensure protocols are in effect to address threats against VA employees providing health care.
The Government Accountability Office shall assess the reporting, staffing, accountability, and chain of command structure of VA police officers at VA medical centers.
| Action Date | Type | Text | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-10-26 | President | Became Public Law No: 115-73. | House floor actions |
| 2017-10-26 | President | Signed by President. | House floor actions |
| 2017-10-24 | Floor | Presented to President. | House floor actions |
| 2017-10-12 | Floor | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2017-10-12 | Vote | On passage Passed by recorded vote: 420 - 0 (Roll no. 568). (text: CR H7989) | House floor actions |
| 2017-10-12 | Vote | On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 190 - 232 (Roll no. 567). | House floor actions |
| 2017-10-12 | Floor | Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8010-8012) | House floor actions |
| 2017-10-12 | Floor | POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the O'Halleran motion to recommit, the Chair put the question on the motion, and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. O'Halleran demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the motion to recommit until a time to be announced. | House floor actions |
| 2017-10-12 | Floor | The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2017-10-12 | Floor | DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the O'Halleran motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House forthwith with an amendment to add a new section at the end of title I related to Disclosure of Violations Relating to Air Transportation. | House floor actions |
| 2017-10-12 | Floor | Mr. O'Halleran moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. (text: CR H8003) | House floor actions |
| 2017-10-12 | Floor | The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. | House floor actions |
| 2017-10-12 | Floor | DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on S. 585. | House floor actions |
| 2017-10-12 | Floor | Rule provides for consideration of S. 585 with 1 hour of general debate. Bill is closed to amendments. The resolution provides for proceedings during the period from October 16, 2017, through October 20, 2017; and provides for consideration of motions to suspend the rules. | House floor actions |
| 2017-10-12 | Floor | Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 562. (consideration: CR H7998-8004) | House floor actions |
| 2017-10-11 | Floor | Rule H. Res. 562 passed House. | House floor actions |
| 2017-10-10 | Floor | Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 562 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of S. 585 with 1 hour of general debate. Bill is closed to amendments. The resolution provides for proceedings during the period from October 16, 2017, through October 20, 2017; and provides for consideration of motions to suspend the rules. | House floor actions |
| 2017-05-26 | Committee | Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. | House committee actions |
| 2017-05-26 | Committee | Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Discharged. | House committee actions |
| 2017-05-26 | Committee | Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. | House committee actions |
| 2017-05-26 | IntroReferral | Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. | House floor actions |
| 2017-05-26 | IntroReferral | Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. | House floor actions |
| 2017-05-26 | Floor | Received in the House. | House floor actions |
| 2017-05-25 | Floor | Message on Senate action sent to the House. | Senate |
| 2017-05-25 | Floor | Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3190; text as passed Senate: CR S3192-3194) | Senate |
| 2017-05-04 | Calendars | Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 57. | Senate |
| 2017-05-04 | Committee | Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 115-44. | Senate |
| 2017-03-15 | Committee | Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably. | Senate |
| 2017-03-08 | IntroReferral | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. | Senate |
| 2017-03-08 | IntroReferral | Introduced in Senate | Library of Congress |