аЯрЁБс>ўџ 68ўџџџ5џџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџьЅС%` №П!bjbjNрNр ..,Š,ŠјџџџџџџЄfffffffд”ААА8шќhрь$$$$$$$$_aaaaaa$Ьh4ж…fy$$yy…ff$$šуууyf$f$_уy_ууffу$  2ЯL№зЩА.у_А0ру Н у fу|$0T"уv’ч$$$……г$$$рyyyyhhh„ьФhhhьz4Ў"аffffffџџџџ  STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD BY THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM ON PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE: THE WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2009 MAY 14, 2009 On behalf of the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, (AFGE), which represents over 600,000 federal workers, thank you for holding this hearing to discuss H.R. 1507, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, introduced by Representatives Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Todd Platts (R-PA). AFGE strongly supports this bill which is equally important to the rights of federal workers, and the protection of the American public those workers serve. President Obama noted in his White House ethics agenda that federal employees are the “watchdogs of wrongdoing and partners in performance” and pledged that his administration would “strengthen whistleblower laws to protect federal workers who expose fraud and abuse of authority in government.” He also committed to expedite the process for reviewing whistleblower claims to ensure that whistleblowers have “full access to courts and due process.” The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2009 is necessary to fulfill these goals. This legislation has twice passed the House, including as an amendment to the American Recovery and Reinstatement Act (before it was dropped before the final bill signed into law), and is now presented a third time for consideration. The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2009 is sound and significant legislation that accords federal workers the same first-class rights and protections as private sector workers. Federal employees have a somewhat different ethos and motivation than their counterparts in the private sector. Federal workers are required, by law, to sign Appointment Affidavits stating in part that they will “support and defend the Constitution of the U.S. against all enemies, foreign and domestic” and that they “will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office” they hold. Reporting fraud, abuse and wrongdoing is a requisite part of upholding that oath and transparency necessary to the public trust. The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act is central to the accountability structures necessary to ensure that federal workers have the same level of protection as private sector and state and local employees when they report waste, fraud, and abuse. The bill also extends whistleblower protections to the 40,000 Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) who serve a crucial role as the first line of defense against acts of aviation terrorism. The exclusion of TSOs from whistleblower protections has been an egregious wrong that has continued for too long and must be corrected. These disclosures can save large amounts of taxpayer money, facilitate efficient and effective governance, and protect the safety and welfare of millions. In addition to providing much needed protections for TSOs, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act helps federal workers by granting them the right to a jury trial in federal court, protects federal scientists who report efforts to alter, misrepresent, or suppress federal research. It also grants due process rights, including the right to a jury trial and all circuits review. Each of these common-sense measures empowers federal workers to perform their duties and protect the safety, welfare, and financial interests of the nation. Allegations that granting federal workers—unlike private sector or state or local workers—meaningful and enforceable whistleblower protections will result in the speculative filing of frivolous claims is both insulting and without merit. Any right or protection can be abused. The harm that is caused by the possibility of frivolous complaints must be weighed against the value the protection provides for the public good. Few rights have as many benefits as whistleblowing with respect to tangible taxpayer and health and safety benefits. Similar claims have been made in the past against the transparency bills such as the Freedom of Information Act and were proven to be unfounded. Any subsequent increase in claims following enactment of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement are more likely to reflect that workers feel protected enough to come forward, not that they are “gaming the system”. It is far more likely that strong whistleblower protections will serve as a deterrent for managers who retaliate against workers who report wrongdoing. Both workers and managers are aware that in the absence of meaningful whistleblower protections, retaliation goes unpunished. The likelihood of swift, certain and severe consequences for managers who engage in retaliation against legitimate whistleblowers will quickly lead to a change in management behavior. Pursuing whistleblower claims is costly in financial and emotional resources. To date most successful federal worker whistleblower cases are pursued by union members who file a grievance under their collective bargaining agreement if they are disciplined as a result of whistleblowing. It is easy to predict that a number of federal union members will continue to utilize the grievance procedures set forth in their collective bargaining agreements to seek a remedy for retaliation. AFGE members are increasingly outraged that private workers are protected when they blow the whistle on wrongdoing, fraud, abuse and waste and are perceived as heroes, but such protections are denied federal workers, whose motives for advocating for those protections are still questioned. Surveys show that fraud and misconduct exist in government and the public sector at comparative levels, but there is a double-standard when it comes to protecting employees from retaliation for whistleblowing in the public sector. Four new corporate whistleblower laws were passed by the 110th Congress, and none was passed for federal employees. Federal workers are asking for a fair chance to defend themselves and the American public. AFGE strongly urges quick Congressional action on H.R. 1507, the Whistleblower Protection Act of 2009, and also calls upon President Obama to immediately sign into law this important federal worker and public protection legislation. 2     {00263151.DOC}  %')+fghopqswЉ, - . 7 o p u { | } ƒ Œ  Њ Ч Ю Я к ` О П Ш к є і § ў & ' ) ; w z Р С ж с  • – Ќ В б в 'бкпъѕњћ  ):;VW^_ОПќїяїяїяїяїяїяїяїяќычучпыпычычычлычпыплпыпыпыпыпыпыпзпгыглгыгугыгыгЯыгыгыгыгыгыгзгh")hВ}лhмAh>N%hG,ЏhФAЏhd.hЧ>xhеbЂhз>a5 hз>a5hз>aQ    %&'*+,efghpqrsЊЋњњњњњњњњђђђђђђђђђђђђђђђђђђђђ$a$gdз>agdз>aј !§§ЋЌЏАБ     -  ШЩКЛм89 !  ѓ є їїїїїїїїїїїъшпшпшппшпшпшпп„а`„аgd R „а7$8$H$`„аgdM-$a$gdз>a ,§ОПХЦDL‘вИЙ  йу§:БВЗлЙНkр)aј-7hjst}ˆ•Ђўџ э я ђ ѓ ј љ ћ ќ ў џ !!!!!!!ќјє№єьєьєшєшєьєфєфєфшфьфшфшфшфршршр№ш№ш№и№ш№ш№ш№рј№даЬШРМРМРМРМГМьШh>N%hз>aCJhз>ajhз>aUh>АhБiPhd.hG,Џh Rh RH*hмNEh+,ghr~h>N%h RhмAhВ}лhxICє ѕ і ј њ ћ § ў !!!!!!!!ііъшшшшшшшшцшшъ $„а`„аa$gd>А„а`„аgd R,1hАа/ Ар=!А"А# $ %ААаАа а†œL@ёџL Normal$CJOJQJ^J_HaJmH sH tH DA@ђџЁD Default Paragraph FontRiѓџГR  Table Normalі4ж l4жaі (kєџС(No ListH™ђH  R Balloon TextCJOJQJ^JaJ44 >N%Header  ЦрР!4 @4 >N%Footer  ЦрР!.џџџџ џџ z™ џџ z™ џџ z™.м в\ %&'*+,efghpqrsЊЋЌЏАБ ШЩК Л м 89 !ѓєѕіР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!Ќ Р!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!Ќ Р!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!ЌР!^Ш %&'*+,efghpqrsЊЋЌЏАБ -ШЩК Л м 89 !ѓєѕіјњћ§ў˜0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€€˜0€€˜0€€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€ -X‘0@]ŽX‘0€X‘0€˜0€€€X‘00€š0€€ !Ћє !!џџЋЛtk„ ЌЛl„ ЇЛTo„ ЪЪQЮЮXB*€urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags€country-region€>*€urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags €PersonName€9*€urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags€place€ \=ћ ј}`ЗПј::.їјхxI R")M-мA>N%d.с$4Ь 7мNEБiPз>a+,g§dvЧ>xr~Е<Šя3gЊЂ­G,ЏФAЏ>АИ+ЕВ}лџ@ -hœ--p@џџUnknownџџџџџџџџџџџџG‡z €џTimes New Roman5€Symbol3& ‡z €џArial5& ‡za€џTahoma"ёˆ№аhч“е&ч“е&DlеfК> -К> -I#№ ДД24dьь3ƒQ№HP)№џ?фџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџd.2џџ2Gage H.R. 1507 hearing statement (00263151.DOC;1) 00263151.DOCCharity Wilson Paul Heaynўџр…ŸђљOhЋ‘+'Гй0Ш˜ мє $8 LX x „  œЈАИРф4Gage H.R. 1507 hearing statement (00263151.DOC;1)00263151.DOCCharity Wilson Normal.dot Paul Heayn2Microsoft Office Word@FУ#@рWVдЩ@b’J№зЩ@b’J№зЩК>ўџеЭеœ.“—+,љЎ00 pxˆ˜ Ј АИРШ а ф AFGEv- ь' 3Gage H.R. 1507 hearing statement (00263151.DOC;1) Title ўџџџ !"#$ўџџџ&'()*+,ўџџџ./01234ўџџџ§џџџ7ўџџџўџџџўџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџRoot Entryџџџџџџџџ РF€ŠнL№зЩ9€1Tableџџџџџџџџ WordDocumentџџџџџџџџ..SummaryInformation(џџџџ%DocumentSummaryInformation8џџџџџџџџџџџџ-CompObjџџџџџџџџџџџџqџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџўџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџўџ џџџџ РFMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.8є9Вq