,,ii  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #aebd  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,may #aj1 #bjbc,mr4    
,pet]s 7= himself & ,mr4 ,braun7        
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,homel& ,security & ,gov]nm5tal ,affairs
  ,a ,,bill  ,to ensure t :i/lebl[]s1   
includ+ contractors1 are protect$ f     
retaliation :5 a ,f$]al employee ord]s a
 reprisal1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort 
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,exp&+  
,:i/lebl[] ,protections = ,contractors  
,act ( #bjbc4  #b4 ,def5se contractor   
employees3 protection f reprisal =      
disclosure ( c]ta9 in=mation ,section   
#dgja ( title #aj1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 
is am5d$-- 7#a7 9 subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 
9 p>agraph 7#a7-- 7i7 9 ! matt] prec$+  
subp>agraph 7,a7-- 7,i7 by /rik+ ,an    
employee & all t foll[s ?r\gh s]vices   
contractor & ins]t+ ,a protect$         
individual2 &  7,,ii7 by /rik+ disclos+ 
& all t foll[s ?r\gh evid5ce (2 &  7ii7 
by /rik+ subp>agraphs 7,a71 7,b71 & 7,c7

 & ins]t+ ! foll[+ subp>agraphs3  7,a7  
,object+ or refus+ to p>ticipate 9 any  
activity1 policy1 practice1 or assign$  
task t ! protect$ individual reasonably 
believes to be 9 violation ( any law1   
rule1 ord]1 or regulation relat$ to any 
contract1 subcontract1 grant1 or        
subgrant4  7,b7 ,disclos+ to a p]son or 
body describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#b7 in=mation 
t ! protect$ individual reasonably      
believes is evid5ce ( ! foll[+3 7i7     
,gross mismanagem5t ( any ,dep>tm5t (   
,def5se contract or grant1 any gross    
wa/e ( ,dep>tm5t funds1 any abuse (     
au?ority relat+ to any ,dep>tm5t        
contract1 subcontract1 grant1 or        
subgrant1 or any violation ( law1 rule1 
or regulation relat$ to any ,dep>tm5t   
contract or subcontract 7includ+ !      
competition = or negotiation ( a        
contract or subcontract7 or grant or    
subgrant4  7ii7 ,gross mismanagem5t (   
any ,national ,a]onautics & ,space      
,adm9i/ration contract or grant1 any    
gross wa/e ( ,adm9i/ration funds1 any   

abuse ( au?ority relat+ to an           
,adm9i/ration contract1 subcontract1    
grant1 or subgrant1 or any violation (  
law1 rule1 or regulation relat$ to any  
,adm9i/ration contract or subcontract   
7includ+ ! competition = or negotiation 
( a contract or subcontract7 or grant or
 subgrant4  7iii7 ,a sub/antial &       
specific dang] to public heal? or       
safety4  2 &  7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#c7-- 7i7
 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 by /rik+ an        
employee & ins]t+ a protect$ individual2
 &  7ii7 by /rik+ subp>agraph 7,b7 &    
ins]t+ ! foll[+ subp>agraph3  7,b7 x    
%all n be )9 ! au?ority ( an executive  
bran* (ficial to reque/ t a contractor1 
subcontractor1 grantee1 or subgrantee   
engage 9 a reprisal prohibit$ by        
p>agraph 7#a74  2  7#b7 9 subsection    
7c7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#a71 by add+ at !
 end ! foll[+ subp>agraph3  7,e7        
,propose appropriate discipl9>y action  
aga9/ any executive bran* (ficial = any 
reque/ made ( a contractor1             
subcontractor1 grantee1 or subgrantee t 

subject$ ! compla9ant to a reprisal     
prohibit$ by subsection 7a74  2 &  7,b7 
by /rik+ p>agraph 7#g7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+
 p>agraph3  7#g7 ,cl>ification = scope (
 waiv] re/rictions  7,a7 ,! rights1 =um1
 & 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$ispute     
arbitration agreem5t4  7,b7 ,no         
pr$ispute arbitration agreem5t %all be  
valid or en=ceable if x requires        
arbitration ( a dispute aris+ "u ?is    
section4  2  7#c7 9 subsection 7f7--    
7,a7 by /rik+ an employee & ins]t+ a    
protect$ individual2 &  7,b7 by /rik+ ! 
employee & ins]t+ ! protect$ individual2
  7#d7 by r$esignat+ subsection 7g7 z   
subsection 7h72  7#e7 by ins]t+ aft]    
subsection 7f7 ! foll[+ new subsection3 
7g7 ,affirmative def5se ,engag+ 9 any   
activity protect$ aga9/ reprisal "u ?is 
section %all be an affirmative def5se 9 
any civil or crim9al action t seeks     
liability = engag+ 9 su* activity4  2 & 

7#f7 9 subsection 7h71 z s r$esignat$-- 
7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#c71 by ins]t+ 1       
includ+ any ,f$]al aw>d z def9$ 9       
section #b7;a7 ( ! ,f$]al ,fund+        
,acc\ntability & ,transp>5cy ,act (     
#bjjf 7#ca ,u4,s4,c4 #faja note7 aft]   
ag5cy2  7,b7 9 p>agraph 7#d71 by ins]t+ 
1 includ+ any p]son t is recipi5t ( a   
,f$]al aw>d z def9$ 9 section #b7;a7 ( !
 ,f$]al ,fund+ ,acc\ntability &         
,transp>5cy ,act ( #bjjf 7#ca ,u4,s4,c4 
#faja note7 aft] ag5cy2 &  7,c7 by add+ 
at ! end ! foll[+ new p>agraph3  7#h7 ,!
 t]m protect$ individual means-- 7,a7 a 
contractor1 subcontractor1 grantee1 or  
subgrantee ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se or ! 
,national ,a]onautics & ,space          
,adm9i/ration1 includ+-- 7i7 ! gov]nm5t 
( ea* ( ! sev]al ,/ates1 ! ,di/rict (   
,columbia1 an ,indian tribe or au?oriz$ 
tribal organization1 ! ,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  7ii7 ! gov]nm5t ( any political
 subdivision (1 ag5cy (1 or             
in/rum5tality (1 a gov]nm5t li/$ 9      
clause 7i72 &  7iii7 any entity t is    
recipi5t ( a ,f$]al aw>d z def9$ 9      
section #b7;a7 ( ! ,f$]al ,fund+        
,acc\ntability & ,transp>5cy ,act (     
#bjjf 7#ca ,u4,s4,c4 #faja note72  7,b7 
an employee1 applicant1 or =m] employee 
( a contractor1 subcontractor1 grantee1 
or subgrantee ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se or
 ! ,national ,a]onautics & ,space       
,adm9i/ration1 includ+ an employee (--  
7i7 ! gov]nm5t ( ea* ( ! sev]al ,/ates1 
! ,di/rict ( ,columbia1 an ,indian tribe
 or au?oriz$ tribal organization1 !     
,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 &  7ii7 ! gov]nm5t ( any 
political subdivision (1 ag5cy (1 or    
in/rum5tality (1 a gov]nm5t li/$ 9      
clause 7i72 or  7,c7 a p]son p]=m+      
p]sonal s]vices = ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se 

or ! ,national ,a]onautics & ,space     
,adm9i/ration pursuant to a contractual 
agreem5t = ! p]=mance ( p]sonal s]vices1
 includ+ a p]sonal s]vices contract or  
p]sonal s]vices agreem5t1 & :o engages 9
 an activity = :i* any reprisal is      
prohibit$ "u subsection 7a71 includ+ a  
p]son p]=m+ p]sonal s]vices pursuant su*
 a contractual agreem5t =-- 7i7 !       
gov]nm5t ( ea* ( ! sev]al ,/ates1 !     
,di/rict ( ,columbia1 an ,indian tribe  
or au?oriz$ tribal organization1 !      
,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 &  7ii7 ! gov]nm5t ( any 
political subdivision (1 ag5cy (1 or    
in/rum5tality (1 a gov]nm5t li/$ 9      
clause 7i74  4  #c4 ,enhancem5t (       
non-def5se contractor protection f      
reprisal = disclosure ( c]ta9 in=mation 
,section #dgab ( title #da1 ,unit$      
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9         
subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 by /rik+ p>agraph 

7#a7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+ p>agraph3  7#a7  
,9 g5]al ,a protect$ individual may n be
 dis*>g$1 demot$1 or o!rwise discrim9at$
 aga9/ z a reprisal = ! foll[+3 7,a7    
,object+ or refus+ to p>ticipate 9 any  
activity1 policy1 practice1 or assign$  
task t ! protect$ individual reasonably 
believes to be 9 violation ( any law1   
rule1 ord]1 or regulation relat$ to any 
contract1 subcontract1 grant1 or        
subgrant4  7,b7 ,disclos+ to a p]son or 
body describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#b7 in=mation 
t ! protect$ individual reasonably      
believes is evid5ce ( ! foll[+3 7i7     
,gross mismanagem5t ( any ,f$]al        
contract or grant1 any gross wa/e (     
,f$]al funds1 any abuse ( au?ority      
relat+ to any ,f$]al contract1          
subcontract1 grant1 or subgrant1 or any 
violation ( law1 rule1 or regulation    
relat$ to any ,f$]al contract or        
subcontract 7includ+ ! competition = or 
negotiation ( a contract or subcontract7
 or grant or subgrant4  7ii7 ,a         
sub/antial & specific dang] to public   

heal? or safety4  2 &  7,b7 9 p>agraph  
7#c7-- 7i7 9 subp>agraph 7,a71 by /rik+ 
an employee & ins]t+ a protect$         
individual2 &  7ii7 by /rik+ subp>agraph
 7,b7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+ subp>agraph3    
7,b7 x %all n be )9 ! au?ority ( an     
executive bran* (ficial to reque/ t a   
contractor1 subcontractor1 grantee1 or  
subgrantee engage 9 a reprisal prohibit$
 by p>agraph 7#a74  2  7#b7 9 subsection
 7c7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph 7#a71 by add+ at 
! end ! foll[+ new subp>agraph3  7,e7   
,propose appropriate discipl9>y action  
aga9/ any executive bran* (ficial = any 
reque/ made ( a contractor1             
subcontractor1 grantee1 or subgrantee t 
subject$ ! compla9ant to a reprisal     
prohibit$ by subsection 7a74  2 &  7,b7 
by /rik+ p>agraph 7#g7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+
 p>agraph3  7#g7 ,rights1 =um1 & rem$ies
 n waivable  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! rights1   
=um1 & rem$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 ,validity   
,no pr$ispute arbitration agreem5t %all 
be valid or en=ceable if x requires     
arbitration ( a dispute aris+ "u ?is    
section4  2  7#c7 9 subsection 7e7--    
7,a7 by /rik+ an employee & ins]t+ a    
protect$ individual2 &  7,b7 by /rik+ ! 
employee & ins]t+ ! protect$ individual2
  7#d7 9 subsection 7g7-- 7,a7 by       
r$esignat+ p>agraph 7#b7 z p>agraph     
7#c72  7,b7 by ins]t+ aft] p>agraph 7#a7
 ! foll[+ new p>agraph 7#b73  7#b7 ,!   
t]m contract includes any ,f$]al aw>d z 
def9$ 9 section #b7;a7 ( ! ,f$]al ,fund+
 ,acc\ntability & ,transp>5cy ,act (    
#bjjf 7#ca ,u4,s4,c4 #faja note74  2 &  
7,c7 by ins]t+ aft] p>agraph 7#c71 z s  
r$esignat$1 ! foll[+ new p>agraph3  7#d7
 ,! t]m protect$ individual means-- 7,a7
 a contractor1 subcontractor1 grantee1  
or subgrantee ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t1     
includ+-- 7i7 ! gov]nm5t ( ea* ( !      
sev]al ,/ates1 ! ,di/rict ( ,columbia1  
an ,indian tribe or au?oriz$ tribal     
organization1 ! ,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  7ii7 !   
gov]nm5t ( any political subdivision (1 
ag5cy (1 or in/rum5tality (1 a gov]nm5t 
li/$ 9 clause 7i72 &  7iii7 any entity t
 is recipi5t ( a ,f$]al aw>d z def9$ 9  
section #b7;a7 ( ! ,f$]al ,fund+        
,acc\ntability & ,transp>5cy ,act (     
#bjjf 7#ca ,u4,s4,c4 #faja note72  7,b7 
an employee1 applicant1 or =m] employee 
( a contractor1 subcontractor1 grantee1 
or subgrantee ( ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t1     
includ+ an employee (-- 7i7 ! gov]nm5t (
 ea* ( ! sev]al ,/ates1 ! ,di/rict (    
,columbia1 an ,indian tribe or au?oriz$ 
tribal organization1 ! ,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 &  7ii7 ! gov]nm5t ( any        
political subdivision (1 ag5cy (1 or    
in/rum5tality (1 a gov]nm5t li/$ 9      

clause 7i72 or  7,c7 a p]son p]=m+      
p]sonal s]vices = ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t    
pursuant to a contractual agreem5t = !  
p]=mance ( p]sonal s]vices1 includ+ a   
p]sonal s]vices contract or p]sonal     
s]vices agreem5t1 includ+ a p]son p]=m+ 
p]sonal s]vices pursuant to su* a       
contractual agreem5t =-- 7i7 ! gov]nm5t 
( ea* ( ! sev]al ,/ates1 ! ,di/rict (   
,columbia1 an ,indian tribe or au?oriz$ 
tribal organization1 ! ,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 &  7ii7 ! gov]nm5t ( any        
political subdivision (1 ag5cy (1 or    
in/rum5tality (1 a gov]nm5t li/$ 9      
clause 7i74  2  7#e7 by r$esignat+      
subsection 7h7 z subsection 7i72 &  7#f7
 by ins]t+ aft] subsection 7g7 ! foll[+ 
new subsection3  7h7 ,affirmative def5se
 ,engag+ 9 any activity protect$ aga9/  
reprisal "u ?is section %all be an      
affirmative def5se 9 any civil or       

crim9al action t seeks liability =      
engag+ 9 su* activity4  4