,i  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #ega  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(            
,,repres5tatives  ,janu>y #bg1 #bjae    
,mr4 ,mill] ( ,florida introduc$ !      
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs1 & 9   
addition to ! ,committee on ,ov]sight & 
,gov]nm5t ,re=m1 = a p]iod to be        
subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* 
case = consid]ation ( su* provisions z  
fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! committee    
conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d title #ch1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to improve !       
treatm5t ( :i/lebl[] compla9ts by !     
,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & = o!r  
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,vet]ans ,affairs          
,retaliation ,prev5tion ,act ( #bjae4   
#b4 ,treatm5t ( :i/lebl[] compla9ts 9   
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  7a7 ,9   
g5]al ,*apt] #g ( title #ch1 ,unit$     
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end 
! foll[+ new sub*apt]3  ,,ii ,:i/lebl[] 
compla9ts  #gba4 ,:i/lebl[] compla9t    
def9$ ,9 ?is sub*apt]1 ! t]m :i/lebl[]  

compla9t means a compla9t by an employee
 ( ! ,dep>tm5t disclos+1 or assi/+ ano!r
 employee to disclose1 a pot5tial       
violation ( any law1 rule1 or           
regulation1 or gross mismanagem5t1 gross
 wa/e ( funds1 abuse ( au?ority1 or     
sub/antial & specific dang] to public   
heal? & safety4  #gbb4 ,treatm5t (      
:i/lebl[] compla9ts  7a7 ,fil+  7#a7 ,9 
addition to any o!r me?od e/abli%$ by   
law 9 :i* an employee may file a        
:i/lebl[] compla9t1 an employee ( !     
,dep>tm5t may file a :i/lebl[] compla9t 
) a sup]visor ( ! employee4  7#b7 ,9    
mak+ a :i/lebl[] compla9t "u p>agraph   
7#a71 an employee %all file ! initial   
compla9t ) ! imm$iate sup]visor ( !     
employee4  7b7 ,notification  7#a7 ,n   
lat] ?an two bus9ess days aft] ! date on
 :i* a sup]visor receives a :i/lebl[]   
compla9t by an employee "u ?is section1 
! sup]visor %all notify1 9 writ+1 !     
employee ( :e!r ! sup]visor det]m9es t  
!re is a reasonable likelihood t !      
compla9t discloses a violation ( any    

law1 rule1 or regulation1 or gross      
mismanagem5t1 gross wa/e ( funds1 abuse 
( au?ority1 or sub/antial & specific    
dang] to public heal? & safety4 ,!      
sup]visor %all reta9 writt5 docum5tation
 reg>d+ ! :i/lebl[] compla9t & %all     
submit to ! next-level sup]visor & !    
,(fice ( ,acc\ntability ,review ( !     
,dep>tm5t a writt5 report on ! compla9t4
  7#b7 ,on a mon?ly basis1 ! sup]visor  
%all submit to ! appropriate director or
 o!r (ficial :o is sup]ior to !         
sup]visor a writt5 report t includes !  
numb] ( :i/lebl[] compla9ts receiv$ by !
 sup]visor "u ?is section dur+ ! mon?   
cov]$ by ! report1 ! disposition ( su*  
compla9ts1 & any actions tak5 because ( 
su* compla9ts pursuant to subsection    
7c74 ,9 ! case 9 :i* su* a director or  
(ficial c>ries out ?is p>agraph1 !      
director or (ficial %all submit su*     
mon?ly report to ! sup]visor ( !        
director or (ficial & to ! ,(fice (     
,acc\ntability ,review4  7c7 ,positive  
det]m9ation ,if a sup]visor makes a     

positive det]m9ation "u subsection      
7b77#a7 reg>d+ a :i/lebl[] compla9t ( an
 employee1 ! sup]visor %all include 9 ! 
notification to ! employee "u su*       
subsection ! specific actions t !       
sup]visor w take to address ! compla9t4 
7d7 ,fil+ compla9t ) next-,level        
sup]visors  7#a7 ,if a sup]visor does n 
make a timely det]m9ation "u subsection 
7b77#a7 reg>d+ a :i/lebl[] compla9t1 or 
if ! employee :o made ! compla9t        
det]m9es t ! sup]visor did n adequately 
address ! compla9t pursuant to          
subsection 7c71 ! employee may file su* 
:i/lebl[] compla9t ) ! next-level       
sup]visor :o %all treat su* compla9t 9  
accordance ) ?is section4  7#b7 ,an     
employee may file a :i/lebl[] compla9t )
 ! ,secret>y if ! employee has fil$ !   
:i/lebl[] compla9t to ea* level (       
sup]visors betwe5 ! employee & !        
,secret>y 9 accordance ) p>agraph 7#a74 
7e7 ,transf] ( employee :o files        
:i/lebl[] compla9t ,if a sup]visor makes
 a positive det]m9ation "u subsection   

7b77#a7 reg>d+ a :i/lebl[] compla9t fil$
 by an employee1 ! ,secret>y %all--     
7#a7 in=m ! employee ( ! ability to     
volunte] = a transf] 9 accordance )     
section #cceb ( title #e2 &  7#b7 give  
pref]5ce to ! employee = su* a transf] 9
 accordance ) su* section4  7f7         
,prohibition on exemption ,! ,secret>y  
may n exempt any employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t 
f be+ cov]$ by ?is section4  #gbc4      
,adv]se actions aga9/ employees :o      
commit prohibit$ p]sonnel actions relat+
 to :i/lebl[] compla9ts  7a7 ,9 g5]al   
7#a7 ,9 accordance ) p>agraph 7#b71 !   
,secret>y %all c>ry out ! foll[+ adv]se 
actions aga9/ employees :om ! ,secret>y1
 an adm9i/rative judge1 ! ,m]it ,sy/ems 
,protection ,bo>d1 ! ,(fice ( ,special  
,c\nsel1 an adjudicat+ body provid$ "u a
 union contract1 a ,f$]al judge1 or !   
,inspector ,g5]al ( ! ,dep>tm5t det]m9es
 committ$ a prohibit$ p]sonnel action   
describ$ 9 subsection 7d73  7,a7 ,)     
respect to ! fir/ (f5se1 an adv]se      
action t is n less ?an a #ad-;day       

susp5sion & n m ?an removal4  7,b7 ,)   
respect to ! second (f5se1 removal4     
7#b7 7,a7 ,except z provid$ by          
subp>agraph 7,b71 & not)/&+ subsections 
7b7 & 7c7 ( section #geac & section     
#gedc ( title #e1 ! provisions (        
subsections 7d7 & 7e7 ( section #gac (  
?is title %all apply ) respect to an    
adv]se action c>ri$ out "u p>agraph     
7#a74  7,b7 ,an employee :o is notifi$ (
 be+ ! subject ( a propos$ adv]se action
 "u p>agraph 7#a7 may n be giv5 m ?an   
five days foll[+ su* notification to    
provide evid5ce to dispute su* propos$  
adv]se action4 ,if ! employee does n    
provide any su* evid5ce1 or if !        
,secret>y det]m9es t su* evid5ce is n   
suffici5t to rev]se ! det]m9ation to    
propose ! adv]se action1 ! ,secret>y    
%all c>ry out ! adv]se action foll[+ su*
 five-day p]iod4  7b7 ,fees  7#a7 ,9    
addition to any adv]se action c>ri$ out 
"u subsection 7a71 to rec\p co/s borne  
by ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t by reason (       
prohibit$ p]sonnel actions describ$ 9   

subsection 7d71 ! ,secret>y %all *>ge a 
fee to ea* employee :o is f\nd to h     
committ$ su* a prohibit$ p]sonnel action
 by an adm9i/rative judge1 ! ,m]it      
,sy/ems ,protection ,bo>d1 ! ,(fice (   
,special ,c\nsel1 an adjudicat+ body    
provid$ "u a union contract1 a ,f$]al   
judge1 or1 9 ! case ( a settlem5t ( a   
:i/lebl[] compla9t 7reg>dless ( :e!r any
 fault 0 assign$ "u su* settlem5t71 !   
,secret>y4 ,! ,secret>y %all af=d su* an
 employee notice & an opportunity = a   
he>+ be=e *>g+ su* fee4  7#b7 ,9 c>ry+  
out p>agraph 7#a71 ! ,secret>y %all     
prescribe a s*$ule ( fees t takes into  
acc\nt ! co/ to ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t ( !  
prohibit$ p]sonnel action committ$ by an
 employee describ$ 9 su* p>agraph1      
includ+ su* co/s paid by ! ,f$]al       
,gov]nm5t pursuant to an ord] to pay    
attorney fees describ$ 9 section        
#abjd7m7 ( title #e or o!r simil> ord] (
 an adm9i/rative judge or ,f$]al judge4 
7c7 ,limitation on o!r adv]se actions ,)
 respect to a prohibit$ p]sonnel action 

describ$ 9 subsection 7d71 if !         
,secret>y c>ries out an adv]se action   
aga9/ an employee or *>ges a fee to an  
employee "u a provision ( law o!r ?an   
?is section1 ! ,secret>y may c>ry out an
 additional adv]se action or *>ge an    
additional fee "u ?is section bas$ on ! 
same prohibit$ p]sonnel action if !     
total sev]ity ( ! adv]se actions d n    
exce$ ! level specifi$ 9 subsection 7a7 
& ! total fees *>g$ d n exce$ ! am\nt   
prescrib$ "u subsection 7b77#b74  7d7   
,prohibit$ p]sonnel action describ$ ,a  
prohibit$ p]sonnel action describ$ 9 ?is
 subsection is any ( ! foll[+ actions3  
7#a7 ,tak+ or fail+ to take a p]sonnel  
action 9 violation ( section #bcjb (    
title #e aga9/ an employee relat+ to !  
employee--  7,a7 fil+ a :i/lebl[]       
compla9t 9 accordance ) section #gbb (  
?is title2  7,b7 fil+ a :i/lebl[]       
compla9t ) ! ,inspector ,g5]al ( !      
,dep>tm5t1 ! ,special ,c\nsel1 or       
,congress2  7,c7 provid+ in=mation or   
p>ticipat+ z a witness 9 an inve/igation

 ( a :i/lebl[] compla9t 9 accordance )  
section #gbb or ) ! ,inspector ,g5]al ( 
! ,dep>tm5t1 ! ,special ,c\nsel1 or     
,congress2  7,d7 p>ticipat+ 9 an audit  
or inve/igation by ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al 
( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7,e7 refus+ to p]=m 
an action t is unlawful or prohibit$ by 
! ,dep>tm5t2 or  7,f7 engag+ 9          
communications t are relat$ to ! duties 
( ! position or are o!rwise protect$4   
7#b7 ,int]f]+ ) an employee mak+ an     
action describ$ 9 any ( subp>agraphs    
7,a7 ?r\gh 7,f7 ( p>agraph 7#a74  7#c7  
,conduct+ a pe] review or op5+ a        
retaliatory inve/igation relat+ to an   
activity ( an employee t is protect$ by 
section #bcjb ( title #e4  7#d7 ,reque/+
 a contractor to c>ry out an action t is
 prohibit$ by section #dgje7;b7 or      
section #dgab7;a77#a7 ( title #da1 z !  
case may be4  #gbd4 ,evaluation crit]ia 
( sup]visors & treatm5t ( bonuses  7a7  
,evaluation crit]ia  7#a7 ,9 evaluat+ ! 
p]=mance ( sup]visors ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 !  
,secret>y %all include ! crit]ia        

describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#b74  7#b7 ,!      
crit]ia describ$ 9 ?is subsection are ! 
foll[+3 7,a7 ,:e!r ! sup]visor treats   
:i/lebl[] compla9ts 9 accordance )      
section #gbb4  7,b7 ,:e!r ! appropriate 
decid+ (ficial1 p]=mance review bo>d1 or
 p]=mance review committee det]m9es t ! 
sup]visor 0 f\nd to h committ$ a        
prohibit$ p]sonnel action describ$ 9    
section #gbc7;c7 by an adm9i/rative     
judge1 ! ,m]it ,sy/ems ,protection      
,bo>d1 ! ,(fice ( ,special ,c\nsel1 an  
adjudicat+ body provid$ "u a union      
contract1 a ,f$]al judge1 or1 9 ! case (
 a settlem5t ( a :i/lebl[] compla9t     
7reg>dless ( :e!r any fault 0 assign$ "u
 su* settlem5t71 ! ,secret>y4  7b7      
,bonuses  7#a7 ,! ,secret>y may n pay to
 a sup]visor describ$ 9 subsection      
7a77#b77;,b7 an aw>d or bonus "u ?is    
title or title #e1 includ+ "u *apt] #de 
or #ec ( su* title1 dur+ ! "o-ye> p]iod 
beg9n+ on ! date on :i* ! det]m9ation 0 
made "u su* subsection4  7#b7 ,not)/&+  
any o!r provision ( law1 ! ,secret>y    

%all issue an ord] direct+ a sup]visor  
describ$ 9 subsection 7a77#b77;,b7 to   
repay ! am\nt ( any aw>d or bonus paid  
"u ?is title or title #e1 includ+ "u    
*apt] #de or #ec ( su* title1 if--  7,a7
 su* aw>d or bonus 0 paid = p]=mance    
dur+ a p]iod 9 :i* ! sup]visor committ$ 
a prohibit$ p]sonnel action z det]m9$   
pursuant to su* subsection 7a77#b77;,b72
  7,b7 ! ,secret>y det]m9es su* repaym5t
 appropriate pursuant to regulations    
prescrib$ by ! ,secret>y to c>ry out ?is
 section2 &  7,c7 ! sup]visor is af=d$  
notice & an opportunity = a he>+ be=e   
mak+ su* repaym5t4  #gbe4 ,tra9+ reg>d+ 
:i/lebl[] compla9ts  7a7 ,tra9+ ,!      
,secret>y1 9 coord9ation ) ! ,:i/lebl[] 
,protection ,ombudsman designat$ "u     
section #c7;d77#a77;,c7 ( ! ,inspector  
,g5]al ,act ( #aigh 7#e ,u4,s4,c4       
,app471 %all annually provide to ea*    
employee ( ! ,dep>tm5t tra9+ reg>d+     
:i/lebl[] compla9ts1 includ+--  7#a7 an 
explanation ( ea* me?od e/abli%$ by law 
9 :i* an employee may file a :i/lebl[]  

compla9t2  7#b7 an explanation (        
prohibit$ p]sonnel actions describ$ by  
section #gbc7;d7 ( ?is title2  7#c7 )   
respect to sup]visors1 h[ to treat      
:i/lebl[] compla9ts 9 accordance )      
section #gbb ( ?is title2  7#d7 ! "r ( !
 employee to petition ,congress reg>d+ a
 :i/lebl[] compla9t 9 accordance )      
section #gbaa ( title #e2  7#e7 an      
explanation t ! employee may n be       
prosecut$ or repris$ aga9/ = disclos+   
in=mation to ,congress 9 in/ances :]e   
su* disclosure is p]mitt$ by law1       
includ+ "u sections #egja1 #egje1 &     
#ggcb ( ?is title1 "u section #eeb;a (  
title #e 7commonly ref]r$ to z !        
,privacy ,act71 "u *apt] #ic ( title    
#ah1 & pursuant to regulations          
promulgat$ "u section #bfd7;c7 ( !      
,heal? ,insurance ,portability &        
,acc\ntability ,act ( #aiif 7,public    
,law #ajd-aia72  7#f7 an explanation ( !
 language t is requir$ to be includ$ 9  
all nondisclosure policies1 =ms1 &      
agreem5ts pursuant to section           

#aae7;a77#a7 ( ! ,:i/lebl[] ,protection 
,enhancem5t ,act ( #bjab 7#e ,u4,s4,c4  
#bcjb note72 &  7#g7 ! "r ( contractors 
to be protect$ f reprisal = ! disclosure
 ( c]ta9 in=mation "u section #dgje or  
#dgab ( title #da4  7b7 ,c]tification ,!
 ,secret>y %all annually provide tra9+  
on m]it sy/em protection 9 a mann] t !  
,special ,c\nsel c]tifies z be+         
satisfactory4  7c7 ,publication ,!      
,secret>y %all publi% on ! ,int]net     
website ( ! ,dep>tm5t1 & display        
prom95tly at ea* facility ( ! ,dep>tm5t1
 ! rights ( an employee to file a       
:i/lebl[] compla9t & to petition        
,congress reg>d+ a :i/lebl[] compla9t z 
describ$ 9 p>agraphs 7#c7 & 7#d7 (      
subsection 7a74  #gbf4 ,reports to      
,congress  7a7 ,annual reports ,!       
,secret>y %all annually submit to !     
,committees on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !   
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & ! ,s5ate a    
report t includes--  7#a7 ) respect to  
:i/lebl[] compla9ts fil$ "u section #gbb
 dur+ ! ye> cov]$ by ! report--  7,a7 ! 

numb] ( su* compla9ts fil$2  7,b7 !     
disposition ( su* compla9ts2 &  7,c7 !  
ways 9 :i* ! ,secret>y address$ su*     
compla9ts 9 :i* a positive det]m9ation 0
 made by a sup]visor "u subsection      
7b77#a7 ( su* section2  7#b7 ! numb] (  
:i/lebl[] compla9ts fil$ dur+ ! ye>     
cov]$ by ! report t are n includ$ "u    
p>agraph 7#a71 includ+--  7,a7 ! me?od 9
 :i* su* compla9ts 7 fil$2  7,b7 !      
disposition ( su* compla9ts2 &  7,c7 !  
ways 9 :i* ! ,secret>y address$ su*     
compla9ts2 &  7#c7 ) respect to         
disclosures made by a contractor "u     
section #dgje or #dgab ( title #da--    
7,a7 ! numb] ( compla9ts relat+ to su*  
disclosures t 7 inve/igat$ by !         
,inspector ,g5]al ( ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,vet]ans ,affairs dur+ ! ye> cov]$ by ! 
report2  7,b7 ! disposition ( su*       
compla9ts2 &  7,c7 ! ways 9 :i* !       
,secret>y address$ su* compla9ts4  7b7  
,notice ( ,(fice ( ,special ,c\nsel     
det]m9ations ,n lat] ?an #cj days aft] !
 date on :i* ! ,secret>y receives f !   

,special ,c\nsel in=mation relat+ to a  
:i/lebl[] compla9t pursuant to section  
#abac ( title #e1 ! ,secret>y %all      
notify ! ,committees on ,vet]ans'       
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives & !
 ,s5ate ( su* in=mation1 includ+ !      
det]m9ation made by ! ,special ,c\nsel4 
4  7b7 ,con=m+ & cl]ical am5dm5ts  7#a7 
,con=m+ am5dm5t ,su* *apt] is fur!r     
am5d$ by ins]t+ be=e section #gja !     
foll[+3  ,i ,g5]al employee matt]s  4   
7#b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5ts ,! table (       
sections at ! beg9n+ ( su* *apt] is     
am5d$--  7,a7 by ins]t+ be=e ! item     
relat+ to section #gja ! foll[+ new     
item3  ,sub*apt] ,i--,g5]al employee    
matt]s  2  &  7,b7 by add+ aft] ! item  
relat+ to section #gac ! foll[+ new     
items3  ,sub*apt] ,,ii--,:i/lebl[]      
compla9ts #gba4 ,:i/lebl[] compla9t     
def9$4 #gbb4 ,treatm5t ( :i/lebl[]      
compla9ts4 #gbc4 ,adv]se actions aga9/  
employees :o commit prohibit$ p]sonnel  
actions relat+ to :i/lebl[] compla9ts4  
#gbd4 ,evaluation crit]ia ( sup]visors &

 treatm5t ( bonuses4 #gbe4 ,tra9+ reg>d+
 :i/lebl[] compla9ts4 #gbf4 ,reports to 
,congress4  4