,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #cifc  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,june #ae1 #bjbj,ms4   
,h>ris 7= h]self1 ,ms4 ,w>r51 ,mr4      
,m>key1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mr4 ,wyd51 ,ms4  
,baldw91 ,ms4 ,klobu*>1 ,mr4 ,s&]s1 ,mr4
 ,blum5?al1 ,mr4 ,durb91 & ,ms4 ,smi?7  
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,homel& ,security & ,gov]nm5tal ,affairs
  ,a ,,bill  ,to protect c]ta9          
:i/lebl[]s seek+ to ensure acc\ntability
 & ov]sight ( ! ,nation's ,,covid-#ai   
p&emic response1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,,covid-#ai ,:i/lebl[] ,protection ,act4
  #b4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act-- 7#a7 !  
t]m abuse ( au?ority means an arbitr>y &
 caprici\s ex]cise ( au?ority by a      
contract+ (fic] or employee t adv]sely  
affects ! rights ( any individual1 or t 
results 9 p]sonal ga9 or advantage to ! 
(fic] or employee or to pref]r$ o!r     
individuals2  7#b7 ! t]m ,,c>es ,act    
means ! ,,c>es ,act 7,public ,law       

#aaf-acf72  7#c7 ! t]m ,coronavirus     
p&emic-relat$ program1 project1 or      
activity-- 7,a7 means a program1        
project1 or activity ( ! executive bran*
 ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t au?oriz$ "u or    
c>ri$ out us+ am\nts made available "u  
an ,act to respond to or to provide aid 
or assi/ance to address1 relief f1 or   
fund+ to address ! outbreak (           
,,covid-#ai t is enact$ be=e1 on1 or    
aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act2 &    
7,b7 includes any program1 project1 or  
activity ( ! executive bran* ( ! ,f$]al 
,gov]nm5t au?oriz$ "u or c>ri$ out us+  
am\nts made available "u-- 7i7 !        
,pay*eck ,protection ,program & ,heal?  
,c>e ,enhancem5t ,act 7,public ,law     
#aaf-aci71 or an am5dm5t made by t ,act2
  7ii7 ! ,,c>es ,act1 or an am5dm5t made
 by t ,act2  7iii7 ! ,families ,fir/    
,coronavirus ,response ,act 7,public    
,law #aaf-abg71 or an am5dm5t made by t 
,act2 or  7iv7 ! ,coronavirus           
,prep>$ness & ,response ,supplem5tal    
,appropriations ,act1 #bjbj 7,public    

,law #aaf-abc71 or an am5dm5t made by t 
,act2  7#d7 ! t]m cov]$ funds means any 
contract1 subcontract1 grant1 subgrant1 
loan1 loan gu>antee1 or o!r paym5t =    
:i*-- 7,a7 ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t provides  
any portion ( ! funds or prop]ty t is   
provid$1 reque/$1 or dem&$2 &  7,b7 any 
portion ( ! funds are appropriat$ or    
o!rwise made available "u or to c>ry out
 a ,coronavirus p&emic-relat$ program1  
project1 or activity2  7#e7 ! t]m       
employee-- 7,a7 except z provid$ "u     
subp>agraph 7,b71 means an individual   
p]=m+ s]vices on behalf ( an employ]1   
includ+ any individual work+ = an       
employ] "u a contract ) su* employ]     
7includ+ a contractor1 subcontractor1 or
 ag5t ( an employ]72 &  7,b7 does n     
include any ,f$]al employee or memb] ( !
 uni=m$ s]vices 7z t t]m is def9$ 9     
section #aja7;a77#e7 ( title #aj1 ,unit$
 ,/ates ,code72  7#f7 ! t]m non-,f$]al  
employ]-- 7,a7 means any employ]-- 7i7 )
 respect to cov]$ funds-- 7,i7 !        
contractor1 subcontractor1 grantee1     

subgrantee1 or recipi5t1 z ! case may   
be1 if ! contractor1 subcontractor1     
grantee1 subgrantee1 or recipi5t is an  
employ]2 &  7,,ii7 any pr(essional      
memb]%ip organization1 c]tification or  
o!r pr(essional body1 any ag5t or       
lic5see ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t1 or any    
p]son act+ directly or indirectly 9 !   
int]e/ ( an employ] receiv+ cov]$ funds2
 or  7ii7 ) respect to cov]$ funds      
receiv$ by a ,/ate or local gov]nm5t1 ! 
,/ate or local gov]nm5t receiv+ ! funds 
& any contractor or subcontractor ( !   
,/ate or local gov]nm5t2 &  7,b7 does n 
mean any dep>tm5t1 ag5cy1 or o!r entity 
( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t2  7#g7 ! t]m       
protect$ individual means-- 7,a7 an     
employee (1 =m] employee (1 or          
individual seek+ employm5t )1 any       
non-,f$]al employ] receiv+ cov]$ funds2 
or  7,b7 a ,f$]al p]sonal s]vices       
contractor receiv+ cov]$ funds1 =m] su* 
,f$]al p]sonal s]vices contractor1 or   
applicant = a ,f$]al p]sonal s]vices    
contract involv+ su* funds2  7#h7 ! t]m 

reprisal means an action 7or1 z         
applicable1 inaction7 t is dis*>g+1     
demot+1 blackli/+1 or act+ or fail+ to  
take an action 9 a mann] prejudicial    
aga9/1 or o!rwise discrim9at+ aga9/ 9   
any way 7includ+ 9 ! hir+ process &     
includ+ by ! ?reat ( any su* action or  
inaction7 a protect$ individual z       
describ$ 9 section #c7;a77#a7 = a reason
 describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 or 7,b7 (  
su* section2 &  7#i7 ! t]m ,/ate or     
local gov]nm5t means-- 7,a7 ! gov]nm5t (
 ea* ( ! sev]al ,/ates1 ! ,di/rict (    
,columbia1 ! ,commonweal? ( ,pu]to      
,rico1 ,guam1 ,am]ican ,samoa1 ! ,virg9 
,isl&s1 ! ,commonweal? ( ! ,nor!rn      
,m>iana ,isl&s1 or any o!r t]ritory or  
possession ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 or  7,b7 !
 gov]nm5t ( any political subdivision ( 
a gov]nm5t li/$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a74  #c4
 ,protect+ :i/lebl[]s  7a7 ,prohibition 
( reprisals  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,a protect$  
individual may n be dis*>g$1 demot$1    
blackli/$1 prejudic$ by any action or   
lack ( action1 or o!rwise discrim9at$   

aga9/ 9 any way 7includ+ 9 ! hir+       
process & includ+ by ! ?reat ( any su*  
action or inaction7 =-- 7,a7 disclos+1  
be+ p]ceiv$ z disclos+1 or prep>+ to    
disclose 7includ+ assi/+ 9 disclos+1 be+
 p]ceiv$ z assi/+ 9 disclos+1 or prep>+ 
to assi/ 9 disclos+ & includ+ a         
disclosure made 9 ! ord9>y c\rse ( !    
duties ( ! protect$ individual7 to an   
(fic] or entity describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#b7
 in=mation t ! protect$ individual      
reasonably believes is evid5ce (        
misconduct t violates1 ob/ructs1 or     
und]m9es any /atute1 rule1 or regulation
 ) respect to any ,coronavirus          
p&emic-relat$ program1 project1 or      
activity1 includ+-- 7i7 gross           
mismanagem5t ( an ag5cy contract1       
subcontract1 grant1 or subgrant relat+  
to cov]$ funds2  7ii7 a gross wa/e (    
cov]$ funds2  7iii7 a sub/antial &      
specific dang] to public heal? or       
safety2  7iv7 an abuse ( au?ority relat$
 to ! di/ribution1 implem5tation1 or use
 ( cov]$ funds1 includ+ conflict (      

int]e/ or p>tiality2 &  7v7 a violation 
( any /atute1 rule1 or regulation relat$
 to an ag5cy contract1 subcontract      
7includ+ ! competition = or negotiation 
( a contract or subcontract71 grant1 or 
subgrant1 aw>d$ or issu$ relat+ to cov]$
 funds2 or  7,b7 refus+ to obey an ord] 
t ! protect$ individual reasonably      
believes w\ld require t individual to   
violate a /atute1 rule1 or regulation ) 
respect to any ,coronavirus             
p&emic-relat$ program1 project1 or      
activity4  7#b7 ,(fic]s & entities ,!   
(fic]s & entities describ$ 9 ?is        
p>agraph are-- 7,a7 ! ,p&emic ,response 
,acc\ntability ,committee2  7,b7 an     
inspector g5]al1 includ+ ! ,special     
,inspector ,g5]al = ,p&emic ,relief2    
7,c7 ! ,congressional ,ov]sight         
,commission2  7,d7 ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al 
( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7,e7 a ,memb] (     
,congress2  7,f7 a congressional        
committee2  7,g7 a ,/ate or ,f$]al      
regulatory or law en=cem5t ag5cy2  7,h7 
7i7 an individual ) sup]visory au?ority 

ov] a protect$ individual2 or  7ii7     
ano!r individual :o-- 7,i7 has au?ority 
to inve/igate1 discov]1 or t]m9ate      
misconduct2 &  7,,ii7 works = !         
non-,f$]al employ] 79 ! case ( a        
protect$ individual describ$ 9 section  
#b7g77;,a771 or ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t 79 ! 
case ( a protect$ individual describ$ 9 
section #b7g77;,b772  7,i7 a c\rt or gr&
 jury2  7,j7 an (fic] or repres5tative (
 a labor organization2 or  7,k7 ! head (
 a ,f$]al ag5cy or a designee ( su* a   
head4  7#c7 ,application  7,a7 ,9 g5]al 
,= ! purposes ( p>agraph 7#a7-- 7i7 a   
protect$ individual :o initiates or     
provides evid5ce ( misconduct by a      
contractor1 subcontractor1 grantee1 or  
subgrantee 9 any judicial or            
adm9i/rative proce$+ relat+ to wa/e1    
fraud1 or abuse 9 connection ) a ,f$]al 
contract or grant %all be deem$ to h    
made a disclosure cov]$ by su* p>agraph2
 &  7ii7 any dis*>ge1 demotion1         
discrim9ation1 or o!r reprisal describ$ 
9 p>agraph 7#a7 is prohibit$ ev5 if x is

 und]tak5 at ! reque/ ( an executive    
bran* (fic] or employee1 unless ! reque/
 takes ! =m ( a non-discretion>y        
directive & is )9 ! au?ority ( !        
executive bran* (ficial mak+ ! reque/4  
7,b7 ,protection ( :i/lebl[] id5tity    
7i7 ,9 g5]al ,except z requir$ by law1  
an (fic] or entity describ$ 9 p>agraph  
7#b7 t receives in=mation "u p>agraph   
7#a7 & any individual or entity to :i* !
 (fic] or entity discloses ! in=mation  
may n disclose ! id5tity or id5tify+    
in=mation ( ! protect$ individual       
provid+ ! in=mation )\t explicit writt5 
cons5t ( ! protect$ individual4  7ii7   
,notice ,if disclosure ( ! id5tity or   
id5tify+ in=mation ( a protect$         
individual provid+ in=mation "u p>agraph
 7#a7 is requir$ by law1 ! recipi5t %all
 provide timely notice ( ! disclosure to
 ! protect$ individual4  7b7            
,inve/igation ( compla9ts  7#a7         
,compla9ts  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,a protect$   
individual :o believes t ! individual   
has be5 subject$ to a reprisal prohibit$

 "u subsection 7a7 may1 )9 #c ye>s aft] 
le>n+ ( ! alleg$ reprisal1 submit a     
compla9t reg>d+ ! reprisal to !         
,secret>y ( ,labor 9 accordance )       
p>agraph 7#b74  7,b7 ,response ,n lat]  
?an #fj days aft] ! submission ( a      
compla9t "u subp>agraph 7,a71 !         
applicable non-,f$]al employ] 7or !     
applicable ag5cy head 9 ! case ( a      
,f$]al p]sonal s]vices contract involv+ 
cov]$ funds7 %all submit an answ] to !  
compla9t to ! ,secret>y ( ,labor4  7#b7 
,rem$y & en=cem5t au?ority  7,a7 ,rules 
& proc$ures ,except to ! ext5t provid$  
o!rwise 9 ?is section1 any action alleg+
 a reprisal prohibit$ "u subsection 7a7 
%all be gov]n$1 to ! maximum ext5t      
practicable1 by ! rules & proc$ures =   
adm9i/rative & judicial en=cem5t1       
includ+ = inve/igations1 civil actions1 
appeals1 & relief1 set =? "u section    
#gfbc7;d7 ( ! ,int]nal ,rev5ue ,code (  
#aihf4  7,b7 ,burd5 ( pro( ,! ,secret>y 
( ,labor1 or ! (fic] presid+ 9 a        
judicial or adm9i/rative proce$+1 %all  

apply ! legal burd5s ( pro( specifi$ 9  
section #abba7;e7 ( title #e1 ,unit$    
,/ates ,code1 9 det]m9+ :e!r a reprisal 
prohibit$ "u subsection 7a7 has occurr$ 
9 accordance ) ! rules & proc$ures "u   
subp>agraph 7,a74  7,c7 ,access to      
inve/igative file ( ! ,secret>y ( ,labor
  7i7 ,9 g5]al ,a protect$ individual   
alleg+ a reprisal "u ?is section %all h 
access to ! inve/igation file ( !       
,secret>y ( ,labor 9 accordance )       
section #eeb;a ( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code 7commonly ref]r$ to z ! ,privacy 
,act74 ,! inve/igation ( ! ,secret>y (  
,labor %all be deem$ clos$ = purposes ( 
disclosure "u su* section :5 an         
individual files an appeal to an ag5cy  
head or a c\rt ( compet5t jurisdiction4 
7ii7 ,civil action ,9 ! ev5t a protect$ 
individual alleg+ a reprisal "u ?is     
section br+s a civil action "u ?is      
subsection1 ! protect$ individual & !   
non-,f$]al employ] 7or ! head ( !       
applicable ag5cy 9 ! case ( a ,f$]al    
p]sonal s]vices contract involv+ cov]$  

funds71 if applicable1 %all h access to 
! inve/igative file ( ! ,secret>y (     
,labor 9 accordance ) section #eeb;a (  
title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7iii7   
,exception ,! ,secret>y ( ,labor may    
exclude f disclosure-- 7,i7 in=mation   
protect$ f disclosure by a provision (  
law2 &  7,,ii7 any additional in=mation 
! ,secret>y ( ,labor det]m9es disclosure
 ( :i* w\ld imp$e a cont9u+             
inve/igation1 if su* in=mation is       
disclos$ once su* disclosure w\ld no    
long] imp$e su* inve/igation1 unless !  
,secret>y ( ,labor det]m9es t disclosure
 ( law en=cem5t te*niques1 proc$ures1 or
 in=mation c\ld reasonably be expect$ to
 risk circumv5tion ( ! law or disclose !
 id5tity ( a confid5tial s\rce4  7iv7   
,privacy ( in=mation ,! ,secret>y (     
,labor inve/igat+ an alleg$ reprisal "u 
?is section may n respond to any inquiry
 or disclose any in=mation f or ab\t any
 protect$ individual alleg+ su*         
reprisal1 except 9 accordance ) !       
provisions ( section #eeb;a ( title #e1 

,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 or z requir$ by any
 o!r applicable ,f$]al law4  7c7 ,g5]al 
provisions  7#a7 ,rights reta9$ by      
employee ,no?+ 9 ?is section %all dim9i%
 ! rights1 privileges1 or rem$ies ( any 
protect$ individual "u any ,f$]al or    
,/ate law1 or "u any collective b>ga9+  
agreem5t4  7#b7 ,liability ,not)/&+ any 
o!r provision ( law1 a protect$         
individual %all be immune f civil &     
crim9al liability ) respect to a        
disclosure by ! individual if !         
individual w\ld be protect$ f reprisal  
"u subsection 7a7 = mak+ ! disclosure4  
,! protect$ individual %all be> ! burd5 
( prov+ t ! individual w\ld be protect$ 
f reprisal "u subsection 7a7 = mak+ !   
disclosure4  7#c7 ,non5=ceability (     
c]ta9 provisions waiv+ rights & rem$ies 
or requir+ arbitration ( disputes  7,a7 
,waiv] ( rights & rem$ies ,except z     
provid$ "u subp>agraph 7,c71 ! rights & 
rem$ies provid$ = 9 ?is section may n be
 waiv$ by any public or private         
agreem5t1 policy1 =m1 or condition (    

employm5t1 includ+ by any pr$ispute     
arbitration agreem5t4  7,b7 ,pr$ispute  
arbitration agreem5ts ,except z provid$ 
"u subp>agraph 7,c71 no pr$ispute       
arbitration agreem5t %all be valid or   
en=ceable if x requires arbitration ( a 
dispute aris+ "u ?is section4  7,c7     
,exception = collective b>ga9+ agreem5ts
 ,not)/&+ subp>agraphs 7,a7 & 7,b71 an  
arbitration provision 9 a collective    
b>ga9+ agreem5t %all be en=ceable z to  
disputes aris+ "u ! collective b>ga9+   
agreem5t4  7#d7 ,requirem5t to po/      
notice ( rights & rem$ies ,any          
non-,f$]al employ] receiv+ cov]$ funds  
7& ! head ( ! applicable ag5cy 9 ! case 
( a ,f$]al p]sonal s]vices contract     
involv+ cov]$ funds7 %all po/ notice ( !
 rights & rem$ies provid$ "u ?is        
section4  7d7 ,rules ( con/ruction  7#a7
 ,no impli$ au?ority to retaliate =     
non-protect$ disclosures ,no?+ 9 ?is    
section may be con/ru$ to-- 7,a7        
au?orize ! dis*>ge (1 demotion (1 or    
discrim9ation or o!r reprisal aga9/ a   

protect$ individual = a disclosure o!r  
?an a disclosure protect$ by subsection 
7a72 or  7,b7 modify or d]ogate f a "r  
or rem$y o!rwise available to ! protect$
 individual4  7#b7 ,relation%ip to ,/ate
 laws ,no?+ 9 ?is section may be con/ru$
 to preempt1 preclude1 or limit !       
protections provid$ = public or private 
employees "u ,/ate :i/lebl[] laws4  7e7 
,compla9t portal ,! ,special ,inspector 
,g5]al = ,p&emic ,relief1 ! ,p&emic     
,relief ,acc\ntability ,committee1 & !  
,congressional ,ov]sight ,commission    
%all ea* e/abli% a public website :]e   
any individual :o believes t !          
individual has be5 subject$ to a        
reprisal prohibit$ "u subsection 7a7 may
 submit a compla9t reg>d+ ! reprisal4   
,su* compla9ts %all be transmitt$ to !  
,secret>y ( ,labor = en=cem5t 9         
accordance ) ?is section4  7f7 ,fund+   
,!re is appropriat$ to ! ,secret>y (    
,labor = ! fiscal ye> end+ ,septemb]    
#cj1 #bjbj1 out ( any money 9 !         
,treasury n o!rwise appropriat$1        

#bj1jjj1jjj to c>ry out ?is ,act1 to    
rema9 available until exp5d$4