,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gahe ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #aa1 #bjbj,mr4 ,swalwell of ,california introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 to make the disclosure of the identity of a whistleblower a criminal offense1 to provide a civil right of action for the disclosure of the identity of a whistleblower1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,enhancing ,protections for ,whistleblower ,anonymity ,act4 #b4 ,criminal penalty for the disclosure of the identity of a whistleblower 7a7 ,in general ,chapter #hh of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #ahjb4 ,disclosure of whistleblower identity 7a7 ,in general ,except under the circumstances described in subsection 7b71 whoever1 being an employee of the ,federal ,government or contractor of the ,federal ,government1 knowingly makes a prohibited disclosure shall be fined under this title1 imprisoned not more than #a year1 or both4 7b7 ,exceptions ,the circumstances described in this subsection are the following3 7#a7 ,the prohibited disclosure-- 7,a7 is made to-- 7i7 an employee of the ,federal ,government2 7ii7 an employee of a ,state government2 or 7iii7 an employee of a local government2 and 7,b7 is expressly permitted by any other law4 7#b7 ,the whistleblower provides written consent before the prohibited disclosure is made4 7c7 ,applicability ,subsection 7a7 shall only apply to a prohibited disclosure that is made after the date of enactment of this section4 7d7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,employee of the ,federal ,government ,the term employee of the ,federal ,government means an officer or employee of the ,united ,states ,government1 including-- 7,a7 a member of the uniformed service2 7,b7 a ,member of ,congress2 and 7,c7 the ,president of the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,member of ,congress ,the term ,member of ,congress has the meaning given such term in section #bajf of title #e4 7#c7 ,prohibited disclosure ,the term prohibited disclosure means a formal or informal communication or transmission of-- 7,a7 the identity of a whistleblower2 or 7,b7 identifying information relating to a whistleblower4 7#d7 ,whistleblower ,the term whistleblower means each of the following3 7,a7 ,an employee1 former employee1 or applicant for employment 7as such terms are used in section #abac7;a7 of title #e7 who makes a disclosure that is described in paragraph 7#a7 or 7#b7 of such section4 7,b7 ,an employee of an agency or applicant for employment at an agency 7as such terms are used in section #bcjb7;b77#h77;,c7 of title #e7 who makes a disclosure as described in such section4 7,c7 ,a former employee of the ,federal ,government who makes a disclosure to ,congress of information described in section #bcjb7;b77#h77;,c7 of title #e4 7,d7 ,an employee that makes a complaint or otherwise provides information to the ,inspector ,general 7as the terms employee and ,inspector ,general are used in the ,inspector ,general ,act of #aigh 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app477 pursuant to the requirements of section #g of such ,act4 7,e7 ,a member of the armed forces that-- 7i7 complains of or discloses information2 and 7ii7 is protected against retaliation for such actions under section #ajcd of title #aj4 7,f7 ,an employee 7as the term employee is used in section #ajc;,h of the ,national ,security ,act of #aidg 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #cjcc77 who the ,inspector ,general of the ,intelligence ,community may not disclose the identity of pursuant to the requirements of section #ajc;,h7g77#c77;,a7 of such ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #cjcc7;g77#c77;,a774 7,g7 ,an employee 7as the term employee is used in section #dgab7;a77#c77;,a7 of title #da7 who is deemed to have made a disclosure under such section4 7,h7 ,a individual not otherwise covered by subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,f7 who-- 7i7 is protected by law to make a disclosure of-- 7,i7 a violation of law or regulation2 or 7,,ii7 gross mismanagement1 gross waste of funds1 abuse of authority1 or a substantial and specific danger to public health or the safety of a ,federal entity2 7ii7 makes such a disclosure2 7iii7 is not prohibited by law to make such a disclosure2 and 7iv7 is not disclosing information that is determined pursuant to ,executive ,order ,no4 #acebf 7#ge ,fed4 ,reg4 #gjg2 relating to classified national security information71 or a successor order1 or the ,atomic ,energy ,act of #aied 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq47 to require protection against unauthorized disclosure4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections for chapter #hh of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new item3 #ahjb4 ,disclosure of whistleblower identity4 4 #c4 ,civil right of action against disclosure of whistleblower identity 7a7 ,prohibited disclosure ,a whistleblower may bring a civil action before the appropriate district court-- 7#a7 for appropriate relief1 including injunctive relief1 compensatory damages1 and punitive damages1 against any employee of the ,federal ,government or contractor of the ,federal ,government who makes a prohibited disclosure1 with respect to such whistleblower2 or 7#b7 for injunctive relief against any employee of the ,federal ,government or contractor of the ,federal ,government who threatens to make a prohibited disclosure1 with respect to such whistleblower4 7b7 ,jury trial ,a party to an action brought under subsection 7a7 shall be entitled to trial by jury4 7c7 ,definitions ,in this section1 the terms employee of the ,federal ,government1 prohibited disclosure1 and whistleblower have the meanings given such terms in section #ahjb7;d7 of title #ah1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by this ,act4