,i  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #afdi  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,april #ah1 #bjac ,mr4
 ,george ,mill] ( ,cali=nia 7= himself1 
,mr4 ,m>key1 ,mr4 ,c\rtney1 & ,mr4      
,holt7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0   
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,education & !
 ,work=ce  ,a ,,bill  ,to provide       
:i/lebl[] protections to c]ta9 work]s 9 
! (f%ore oil & gas indu/ry4  #a4 ,%ort  
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,(f%ore 
,oil & ,gas ,work] ,:i/lebl[]           
,protection ,act ( #bjac4  #b4          
,:i/lebl[] protections2 employee        
protection f o!r retaliation  7a7       
,prohibition ,aga9/ ,retaliation  7#a7  
,9 g5]al ,no employ] may dis*>ge or     
o!rwise discrim9ate aga9/ a cov]$       
employee because ! cov]$ employee1 :e!r 
at ! cov]$ employee's initiative or 9 ! 
ord9>y c\rse ( ! cov]$ employee's       
duties--  7,a7 provid$1 caus$ to be     
provid$1 or is ab\t to provide or cause 
to be provid$ to ! employ] or to a      
,f$]al or ,/ate ,gov]nm5t (ficial1      

in=mation relat+ to any violation (1 or 
any act or omission ! cov]$ employee    
reasonably believes to be a violation (1
 any provision ( ! ,out] ,cont95tal     
,%elf ,l&s ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #acja et 
seq471 or any ord]1 rule1 regulation1   
/&>d1 or prohibition "u t ,act1 or      
ex]cis$ any rights provid$ to employees 
"u t ,act2  7,b7 te/ifi$ or is ab\t to  
te/ify 9 a proce$+ conc]n+ su*          
violation2  7,c7 assi/$ or p>ticipat$ or
 is ab\t to assi/ or p>ticipate 9 su* a 
proce$+2  7,d7 te/ifi$ or is ab\t to    
te/ify be=e ,congress on any matt] cov]$
 by su* ,act2  7,e7 object$ to1 or      
refus$ to p>ticipate 9 any activity1    
policy1 practice1 or assign$ task t !   
cov]$ employee reasonably believ$ to be 
9 violation ( any provision ( su* ,act1 
or any ord]1 rule1 regulation1 /&>d1 or 
ban "u su* ,act2  7,f7 report$ to !     
employ] or a ,/ate or ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t  
(ficial any ( ! foll[+ relat$ to !      
employ]'s activities describ$ 9 section 
#c7a73 an illness1 injury1 unsafe       

condition1 or in=mation reg>d+ !        
adequacy ( any oil spill response plan  
requir$ by law2 or  7,g7 refus$ to p]=m 
! cov]$ employee's duties1 or ex]cis$   
/op "w au?ority1 relat$ to ! employ]'s  
activities describ$ 9 section #c7a7 if !
 cov]$ employee _h a good fai? belief t 
p]=m+ su* duties c\ld result 9 injury to
 or impairm5t ( ! heal? ( ! cov]$       
employee or o!r employees1 or cause an  
oil spill to ! environm5t4  7#b7 ,good  
fai? belief ,= purposes ( p>agraph      
7#a77;,e71 ! circum/ances caus+ ! cov]$ 
employee's good fai? belief t p]=m+ su* 
duties w\ld pose a heal? & safety haz>d 
%all be ( su* a nature t a reasonable   
p]son "u circum/ances confront+ ! cov]$ 
employee w\ld conclude !re is su* a     
haz>d4  7b7 ,process  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,a  
cov]$ employee :o believes t he or %e   
has be5 dis*>g$ or o!rwise discrim9at$  
aga9/ 7h]eaft] ref]r$ to z ! compla9ant7
 by any employ] 9 violation ( subsection
 7a77#a7 may1 n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] 
! date on :i* su* alleg$ violation      

occurs or ! date on :i* ! cov]$ employee
 kn[s or %\ld reasonably h kn[n t su*   
alleg$ violation occurr$1 file 7or h any
 p]son file on 8 or h] behalf7 a        
compla9t ) ! ,secret>y ( ,labor 7ref]r$ 
to 9 ?is section z ! ,secret>y7 alleg+  
su* dis*>ge or discrim9ation & id5tify+ 
employ] or employ]s responsible = su*   
act4 ,^u receipt ( su* a compla9t1 !    
,secret>y %all notify1 9 writ+1 !       
employ] or employ]s nam$ 9 ! compla9t ( 
! fil+ ( ! compla9t1 ( ! allegations    
conta9$ 9 ! compla9t1 ( ! sub/ance (    
evid5ce support+ ! compla9t1 & ( !      
opportunities t w be af=d$ to su* p]son 
"u p>agraph 7#b74  7#b7 ,inve/igation   
7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] 
! date ( receipt ( a compla9t fil$ "u   
p>agraph 7#a7 ! ,secret>y %all initiate 
an inve/igation & det]m9e :e!r !re is   
reasonable cause to believe t ! compla9t
 has m]it & notify1 9 writ+1 !          
compla9ant & ! employ] or employ]s      
alleg$ to h committ$ a violation (      
subsection 7a77#a7 ( ! ,secret>y's      

f9d+s4 ,! ,secret>y %all1 dur+ su*      
inve/igation af=d ! compla9ant & !      
employ] or employ]s nam$ 9 ! compla9t an
 opportunity to submit to ! ,secret>y a 
writt5 response to ! compla9t & an      
opportunity to meet ) a repres5tative ( 
! ,secret>y to pres5t /atem5ts f        
witnesses4 ,! compla9ant %all be provid$
 ) an opportunity to review ! in=mation 
& evid5ce provid$ by employ] or employ]s
 to ! ,secret>y1 & to review any        
response or rebuttal by su* ! compla9t1 
z "p ( su* inve/igation4  7,b7          
,reasonable cause f\nd2 prelim9>y ord]  
,if ! ,secret>y concludes t !re is      
reasonable cause to believe t a         
violation ( subsection 7a77#a7 has      
occurr$1 ! ,secret>y %all accompany !   
,secret>y's f9d+s ) a prelim9>y ord]    
provid+ ! relief prescrib$ by p>agraph  
7#c77;,b74 ,n lat] ?an #cj days aft] !  
date ( notification ( f9d+s "u ?is      
p>agraph1 ! employ] or employ]s alleg$  
to h committ$ ! violation or !          
compla9ant may file objections to !     

f9d+s or prelim9>y ord]1 or bo?1 &      
reque/ a he>+ on ! record be=e an       
adm9i/rative law judge ( ! ,dep>tm5t (  
,labor4 ,! fil+ ( su* objections %all n 
op]ate to /ay any re9/atem5t rem$y      
conta9$ 9 ! prelim9>y ord]4 ,any su*    
he>+ %all be conduct$ exp$iti\sly4 ,if a
 he>+ is n reque/$ 9 su* #cj-;day p]iod1
 ! prelim9>y ord] %all be deem$ a f9al  
ord] t is n subject to judicial review4 
,! ,secret>y ( ,labor is au?oriz$ to    
en=ce prelim9>y re9/atem5t ord]s 9 !    
,unit$ ,/ates di/rict c\rt = ! di/rict 9
 :i* ! violation 0 f\nd to occur1 or 9 !
 ,unit$ ,/ates di/rict c\rt = ! ,di/rict
 ( ,columbia4  7,c7 ,dismissal (        
compla9t  7i7 ,/&>d = compla9ant ,!     
,secret>y %all dismiss a compla9t fil$  
"u ?is subsection & %all n conduct an   
inve/igation o!rwise requir$ "u         
subp>agraph 7,a7 unless ! compla9ant    
makes a prima facie %[+ t any behavior  
describ$ 9 subp>agraphs 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,g7 
( subsection 7a77#a7 0 a contribut+     
factor 9 ! adv]se action alleg$ 9 !     

compla9t4  7ii7 ,/&>d = employ] ,not)/&+
 a f9d+ by ! ,secret>y t ! compla9ant   
has made ! %[+ requir$ "u clause 7i71 no
 inve/igation o!rwise requir$ "u        
subp>agraph 7,a7 %all be conduct$ if !  
employ] demon/rates1 by cle> & conv9c+  
evid5ce1 t ! employ] w\ld h tak5 ! same 
adv]se action 9 ! abs5ce ( t behavior4  
7iii7 ,violation /&>d ,! ,secret>y may  
det]m9e t a violation ( subsection      
7a77#a7 has occurr$ only if ! compla9ant
 demon/rates t any behavior describ$ 9  
subp>agraphs 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,g7 ( su*      
subsection 0 a contribut+ factor 9 !    
adv]se action alleg$ 9 ! compla9t4  7iv7
 ,relief /&>d ,relief may n be ord]$ "u 
subp>agraph 7,a7 if ! employ]           
demon/rates by cle> & conv9c+ evid5ce t 
! employ] w\ld h tak5 ! same adv]se     
action 9 ! abs5ce ( t behavior4  7#c7   
,ord]s  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ij   
days aft] ! receipt ( a reque/ = a he>+ 
"u subsection 7b77#b77;,b71 !           
adm9i/rative law judge %all issue f9d+s 
( fact & ord] ! relief provid$ "u ?is   

p>agraph or d5y ! compla9t4 ,at any "t  
be=e issuance ( an ord]1 a proce$+ "u   
?is subsection may be t]m9at$ on ! basis
 ( a settlem5t agreem5t ent]$ into by ! 
,secret>y1 ! compla9ant1 & ! p]son      
alleg$ to h committ$ ! violation4 ,su* a
 settlem5t may n be agre$ by su* p>ties 
if x conta9s conditions :i* conflict )  
rights protect$ "u ?is ,act1 are contr>y
 to public policy1 or include a         
re/riction on a compla9ant's "r to      
future employm5t ) employ]s o!r ?an !   
specific employ]s nam$ 9 ! compla9t4    
7,b7 ,cont5t ( ord] ,if1 9 response to a
 compla9t fil$ "u p>agraph 7#a71 !      
adm9i/rative law judge det]m9es t a     
violation ( subsection 7a77#a7 has      
occurr$1 ! adm9i/rative law judge %all  
ord] ! employ] or employ]s :o committ$  
su* violation to--  7i7 take affirmative
 action to abate ! violation2  7ii7     
re9/ate ! compla9ant to 8 or h] =m]     
position toge!r ) comp5sation 7includ+  
back pay & prejudgm5t int]e/7 & re/ore !
 t]ms1 conditions1 & privileges         

associat$ ) 8 or h] employm5t2  7iii7   
expunge ( all w>n+s1 reprim&s1 or       
d]ogatory ref]5ces t h be5 plac$ 9 pap] 
or electronic records or databases ( any
 type relat+ to ! actions by !          
compla9ant t gave rise to ! unfavorable 
p]sonnel action1 &1 at ! compla9ant's   
direction1 transmit a copy ( ! decision 
on ! compla9t to any p]son :om !        
compla9ant reasonably believes may h    
receiv$ su* unfavorable in=mation2 &    
7iv7 provide comp5satory & consequ5tial 
damages1 &1 z appropriate1 exempl>y     
damages to ! compla9ant4  7,c7 ,attorney
 fees ,if su* an ord] is issu$ "u ?is   
p>agraph1 ! ,secret>y1 at ! reque/ ( !  
compla9ant1 %all assess aga9/ ! employ] 
or employ]s a sum equal to ! aggregate  
am\nt ( all co/s & exp5ses 7includ+     
attorneys' & exp]t witness fees7        
reasonably incurr$ by ! compla9ant =1 or
 9 connection )1 ! br++ ( ! compla9t ^u 
:i* ! ord] 0 issu$ at ! conclusion ( any
 /age ( ! proce$+4  7,d7 ,bad fai? claim
 ,if ! ,secret>y f9ds t a compla9t "u   

p>agraph 7#a7 is frivol\s or has be5    
br\ght 9 bad fai?1 ! ,secret>y may aw>d 
to ! prevail+ employ] reasonable        
attorneys' fees1 n exce$+ #a1jjj1 to be 
paid by ! compla9ant4  7,e7             
,adm9i/rative appeal ,n lat] ?an #cj    
days aft] ! receipt ( f9d+s ( fact or an
 ord] "u subp>agraph 7,b71 ! employ] or 
employ]s alleg$ to h committ$ !         
violation or ! compla9ant may file1 )   
objections1 an adm9i/rative appeal ) !  
,secret>y1 :o may designate su* appeal  
to a review bo>d4 ,9 review+ a decision 
& ord] ( ! adm9i/rative law judge1 !    
,secret>y %all affirm ! decision & ord] 
if x is det]m9$ t ! factual f9d+s set =?
 !re9 are support$ by sub/antial evid5ce
 & ! decision & ord] are made 9         
accordance ) applicable law4 ,!         
,secret>y %all issue a f9al decision &  
ord] affirm+1 or rev]s+1 9 :ole or 9 "p1
 ! decision "u review )9 #ij days aft]  
receipt ( ! adm9i/rative appeal "u ?is  
subp>agraph4 ,if x is det]m9$ t a       
violation ( subsection 7a77#a7 has      

occurr$1 ! ,secret>y %all ord] relief   
provid$ "u subp>agraphs 7,b7 & 7,c74    
,su* decision %all con/itute a f9al     
ag5cy action ) respect to ! matt]       
appeal$4  7#d7 ,action 9 c\rt  7,a7 ,9  
g5]al ,if ! ,secret>y has n issu$ a f9al
 decision )9 #ccj days aft] ! fil+ ( !  
compla9t1 ! compla9ant may br+ an action
 at law or equity = de novo review 9 !  
appropriate di/rict c\rt ( ! ,unit$     
,/ates1 :i* action %all1 at ! reque/ (  
ei!r p>ty to su* action1 be tri$ by !   
c\rt ) a jury4 ,! proce$+s %all be      
gov]n$ by ! same legal burd5s ( pro(    
specifi$ 9 p>agraph 7#b77;,c74  7,b7    
,relief ,! c\rt may aw>d all appropriate
 relief includ+ injunctive relief1      
comp5satory & consequ5tial damages1     
includ+--  7i7 re9/atem5t ) ! same      
s5iority /atus t ! cov]$ employee w\ld h
 _h1 b = ! dis*>ge or discrim9ation2    
7ii7 ! am\nt ( back pay suffici5t to    
make ! cov]$ employee :ole1 ) prejudgm5t
 int]e/2  7iii7 expungem5t ( all w>n+s1 
reprim&s1 or d]ogatory ref]5ces t h be5 

plac$ 9 pap] or electronic records or   
databases ( any type relat+ to ! actions
 by ! compla9ant t gave rise to !       
unfavorable p]sonnel action1 &1 at !    
compla9ant's direction1 transmission ( a
 copy ( ! decision on ! compla9t to any 
p]son :om ! compla9ant reasonably       
believes may h receiv$ su* unfavorable  
in=mation2  7iv7 exempl>y damages1 z    
appropriate2 &  7v7 litigation co/s1    
includ+ reasonable attorney fees & exp]t
 witness fees4  7#e7 ,review  7,a7 ,9   
g5]al ,any p]son aggriev$ by a f9al ord]
 issu$ "u p>agraph 7#c7 or a judgm5t or 
ord] "u p>agraph 7#d7 may obta9 review (
 ! ord] 9 ! appropriate ,unit$ ,/ates   
,c\rt ( ,appeals4 ,! petition = review  
mu/ be fil$ n lat] ?an #fj days aft] !  
date ( ! issuance ( ! f9al ord] ( !     
,secret>y4 ,review %all be 9 accordance 
) *apt] #g ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code4 ,! comm5cem5t ( proce$+s "u ?is  
subp>agraph %all n1 unless ord]$ by !   
c\rt1 op]ate z a /ay ( ! ord]4  7,b7 ,no
 o!r judicial review ,an ord] ( !       

,secret>y ) respect to :i* review c\ld h
 be5 obta9$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 %all n  
be subject to judicial review 9 any o!r 
proce$+4  7#f7 ,failure to comply ) ord]
 ,:5ev] any employ] has fail$ to comply 
) an ord] issu$ "u p>agraph 7#c71 !     
,secret>y may obta9 9 a civil action 9 !
 ,unit$ ,/ates di/rict c\rt = ! di/rict 
9 :i* ! violation 0 f\nd to occur1 or 9 
! ,unit$ ,/ates di/rict c\rt = !        
,di/rict ( ,columbia1 all appropriate   
relief includ+1 b n limit$ to1          
injunctive relief & comp5satory damages4
  7#g7 ,civil action to require         
compliance  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,:5ev] an     
employ] has fail$ to comply ) an ord]   
issu$ "u p>agraph 7#c71 ! compla9ant on 
^: behalf ! ord] 0 issu$ may obta9 9 a  
civil action 9 an appropriate ,unit$    
,/ates di/rict c\rt aga9/ ! employ] to  
:om ! ord] 0 issu$1 all appropriate     
relief4  7,b7 ,aw>d ,! c\rt1 9 issu+ any
 f9al ord] "u ?is p>agraph1 may aw>d    
co/s ( litigation 7includ+ reasonable   
attorneys' & exp]t witness fees7 to any 

p>ty :5ev] ! c\rt det]m9es su* aw>d is  
appropriate4  7c7 ,con/ruction  7#a7    
,effect on o!r laws ,no?+ 9 ?is section 
preempts or dim9i%es any o!r safegu>ds  
aga9/ discrim9ation1 demotion1 dis*>ge1 
susp5sion1 ?reats1 h>assm5t1 reprim&1   
retaliation1 or any o!r mann] (         
discrim9ation provid$ by ,f$]al or ,/ate
 law4  7#b7 ,rights ( employees ,no?+ 9 
?is section %all be con/ru$ to dim9i% ! 
rights1 privileges1 or rem$ies ( any    
employee "u any ,f$]al or ,/ate law or  
"u any collective b>ga9+ agreem5t4 ,!   
rights & rem$ies 9 ?is section may n be 
waiv$ by any agreem5t1 policy1 =m1 or   
condition ( employm5t4  7d7 ,en=cem5t ( 
,nondiscretion>y ,duties ,any           
nondiscretion>y duty impos$ by ?is      
section %all be en=ceable 9 a m&amus    
proce$+ br\ght "u section #acfa ( title 
#bh1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7e7 ,po/+ (  
,notice & ,tra9+ ,all employ]s %all po/ 
a notice :i* has be5 approv$ z to =m &  
cont5t by ! ,secret>y ( ,labor 9 a      
conspicu\s location 9 ! place (         

employm5t :]e cov]$ employees frequ5t   
:i* expla9s employee rights & rem$ies "u
 ?is section4 ,ea* employ] %all provide 
tra9+ to cov]$ employees ( _! rights "u 
?is section )9 #cj days ( employm5t1 &  
at n less ?an once e #ab mon?s !reaft]1 
& provide cov]$ employees ) a c>d :i*   
conta9s a toll free telephone numb] at !
 ,dep>tm5t ( ,labor :i* cov]$ employees 
c call to get in=mation or file a       
compla9t "u ?is section4  7f7           
,designation by ! ,secret>y ,! ,secret>y
 ( ,labor %all1 )9 #cj days ( ! date (  
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 designate by ord] !
 appropriate ag5cy (ficials to receive1 
inve/igate1 & adjudicate compla9ts (    
violations ( subsection 7a77#a74  #c4   
,def9itions ,z us$ 9 ?is ,act ! foll[+  
def9itions apply3  7#a7 ,! t]m cov]$    
employee--  7,a7 means an individual    
p]=m+ s]vices on behalf ( an employ] t  
is engag$ 9 activities on or 9 wat]s    
above ! ,out] ,cont95tal ,%elf relat$   
to--  7i7 support+1 or c>ry+ out        
exploration1 developm5t1 production1    

process+1 or transportation ( oil or    
gas2 or  7ii7 oil spill cleanup1 em]g5cy
 response1 environm5tal surveillance1   
protection1 or re/oration1 or o!r oil   
spill activities relat$ to occupational 
safety & heal?2 &  7,b7 includes an     
applicant = su* employm5t4  7#b7 ,! t]m 
employ] means "o or m individuals1      
p>tn]%ips1 associations1 corporations1  
tru/s1 un9corporat$ organizations1      
nongov]nm5tal organizations1 or tru/ees1
 & includes any ag5t1 contractor1       
subcontractor1 grantee or consultant (  
su* employ]4  7#c7 ,! t]m ,out]         
,cont95tal ,%elf has ! mean+ t ! t]m    
out] ,cont95tal ,%elf has 9 ! ,out]     
,cont95tal ,%elf ,l&s ,act 7#dc         
,u4,s4,c4 #acca et seq474