,i  #aai? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #ajaih  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(         
,,repres5tatives  ,augu/ #ca1 #bjbf,mr4 
,v9dman 7= himself & ,mr4 ,subramanyam7 
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to
 ! ,committee on ,ov]sight & ,gov]nm5t  
,re=m  ,a ,,bill  ,to limit ! use (     
nondisclosure agreem5ts t re/rict       
:i/lebl[+ by ,f$]al employees &         
contractors1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4     
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,f$]al ,work] ,protection ,act4  #b4    
,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7    
,f$]al employees s]ve z ! public's la/  
l9e ( def5se aga9/ wa/e1 fraud1 abuse1 &
 violations ( law )9 ! executive bran*4 
,! ability ( ,f$]al employees to make   
protect$ disclosures to ,congress1      
,inspectors ,g5]al1 ! ,(fice ( ,special 
,c\nsel1 & o!r ov]sight bodies is       
ess5tial to ! function+ ( democratic    
acc\ntability4  7#b7 ,! ,:i/lebl[]      
,protection ,act ( #aihi 7section #bcjb 
( title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code71 !     
,inspector ,g5]al ,act ( #aigh 7*apt] #d

 ( su* title71 & relat$ /atutes reflect 
firm judgm5t ( ,congress t no employee (
 ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t %all suff]          
retaliation = lawfully disclos+         
in=mation ab\t wrongdo+4  7#c7          
,non-disclosure agreem5ts impos$ by     
executive ag5cies on ,f$]al employees1  
ev5 :5 nom9ally compliant ) exi/+       
:i/lebl[] /atutes1 c h a sub/antial     
*ill+ effect on protect$ disclosures    
?r\gh ambiguity ( scope1 fe> ( en=cem5t 
proce$+s1 & adm9i/rative pressure4  7#d7
 ,! ,(fice ( ,p]sonnel ,managem5t's     
propos$ template non-disclosure         
agreem5ts1 publi%$ = public comm5t 9    
#bjbf1 w\ld1 if f9aliz$1 become "p ( !  
/&>d onbo>d+ process = a broad category 
( ,f$]al employees & contractors1       
magnify+ ! pot5tial = widespread *ill+ (
 protect$ spee*4  7#e7 ,congress has !  
au?ority & ! obligation to ensure t no  
executive in/rum5t op]ates to n>r[1     
dim9i%1 or *ill ! /atutory rights       
,congress has conf]r$ ^u ,f$]al         
employees4  #c4 ,,nda transp>5cy &      

pla9-language disclosure requirem5ts    
7a7 ,pla9-,language rid] requir$ ,an    
ag5cy may n require an employee to sign 
a cov]$ ,,nda unless ! cov]$ ,,nda be>s1
 9 conspicu\s & legible type on ! cov]$ 
,,nda or z a cle>ly label$ & prom95tly  
display$ atta*m5t to ! cov]$ ,,nda--    
7#a7 a notice /at+ ,,y\r ,,protect$     
,,disclosure ,,rights 9 boldface type no
 small] ?an ! body text ( ! ,,nda2 &    
7#b7 a /atem5t imm$iately foll[+ su*    
notice t-- 7,a7 ! employee reta9s ! "r  
to disclose in=mation to-- 7i7 ! ,(fice 
( ,special ,c\nsel2  7ii7 ! ,inspector  
,g5]al ( ! employee's ag5cy or any o!r  
,inspector ,g5]al2  7iii7 ! ,gov]nm5t   
,acc\ntability ,(fice2  7iv7 any        
committee or subcommittee ( ,congress1  
or any ,memb] ( ,congress or memb] (    
congressional /aff ) appropriate        
security cle>ance1 reg>dless ( committee
 assignm5t2  7v7 ! ,m]it ,sy/ems        
,protection ,bo>d2  7vi7 a ,f$]al c\rt (
 compet5t jurisdiction2 &  7vii7 any o!r
 *annel designat$ by law z a p]missible 

recipi5t ( a protect$ disclosure2 &     
7,b7 t ! cov]$ ,,nda may n be invok$ or 
en=c$ by ! ag5cy to p5alize1 discipl9e1 
or ?reat5 ! employee = any disclosure t 
con/itutes a protect$ disclosure "u     
applicable law4  7b7 ,=mat requirem5ts  
,! /atem5t requir$ "u subsection 7a7    
%all-- 7#a7 appe> be=e any signature    
block 9 ! cov]$ ,,nda2  7#b7 n be r$uc$ 
9 font size or o!rwise =matt$ 9 a mann] 
design$ to m9imize its prom95ce2 &  7#c7
 be provid$ to ! employee 9 bo? !       
language ( ! ,,nda &1 ^u reque/1 9 any  
language 9 :i* ! ag5cy r\t9ely          
communicates ) ! employee4  7c7 ,civil  
liability ,an ag5cy t imposes a cov]$   
,,nda t does n comply ) ! requirem5ts ( 
?is section %all be liable to any       
affect$ employee =-- 7#a7 a civil p5alty
 ( n less ?an #e1jjj p] violation2 &    
7#b7 reasonable attorney's fees & co/s  
incurr$ 9 any proce$+ to en=ce ?is      
section4  #d4 ,pre-cle>ance by ! (fice (
 special c\nsel  7a7 ,pre-,cle>ance     
requir$ ,be=e any ag5cy may use or      

di/ribute a cov]$ ,,nda template1       
includ+ any template prep>$ or di/ribut$
 by ! ,(fice ( ,p]sonnel ,managem5t1 !  
head ( ! ag5cy %all submit ! template to
 ! ,(fice ( ,special ,c\nsel = review & 
c]tification4  7b7 ,review /&>d ,!      
,(fice ( ,special ,c\nsel %all review   
ea* submitt$ template & %all-- 7#a7     
c]tify ! template if ! ,(fice det]m9es t
 no provision ( ! template1 z appli$ to 
! broade/ plausible population ( cov]$  
employees1 w\ld re/rict1 disc\rage1 or  
reasonably be int]pret$ to re/rict or   
disc\rage a protect$ disclosure2 or     
7#b7 return to ! ag5cy ! template )     
writt5 objections specify+ ea* provision
 t fails to meet ! /&>d 9 p>agraph 7#a74
  7c7 ,review p]iod ,! ,(fice ( ,special
 ,c\nsel %all complete its review )9 #fj
 days ( receiv+ a submission4 ,if !     
,(fice fails to act )9 #fj days1 !      
template %all be deem$ provisionally    
approv$1 b ! ,(fice may revoke          
provisional approval at any "t ^u f9d+ a
 subsequ5t defici5cy4  7d7 ,prohibition 

on use )\t cle>ance ,no ag5cy may impose
 a cov]$ ,,nda us+ a template t has n   
receiv$ c]tification or provisional     
approval "u ?is section4 ,any cov]$     
,,nda impos$ 9 violation ( ?is          
subsection %all be void & un5=ceable4   
7e7 ,public regi/ry ,! ,(fice ( ,special
 ,c\nsel %all ma9ta9 a publicly         
accessible onl9e regi/ry ( all templates
 submitt$ = review "u ?is section1      
toge!r ) ! ,(fice's c]tification        
det]m9ation or writt5 objections1 & %all
 update ! regi/ry )9 #aj bus9ess days ( 
ea* det]m9ation4  7f7 ,annual review ,! 
,(fice ( ,special ,c\nsel %all review   
previ\sly c]tifi$ templates n less ?an  
once e two ye>s & may revoke            
c]tification ^u a f9d+ t ! template no  
long] meets ! /&>d 9 subsection 7b77#a74
  #e4 ,private "r ( action aga9/ ?reat5$
 or actual retaliatory nda en=cem5t  7a7
 ,"r ( action ,an employee :o is subject
 to1 or is ?reat5$ )1 retaliatory ,,nda 
en=cem5t may br+ a civil action 9 a     
,unit$ ,/ates di/rict c\rt aga9/ ! ag5cy

 & aga9/ ! ag5cy (ficial :o direct$ or  
c>ri$ out ! ?reat5$ or actual en=cem5t  
action4  7b7 ,relief available ,9 an    
action "u ?is section1 ! c\rt may aw>d  
appropriate relief1 includ+-- 7#a7      
prelim9>y or p]man5t injunctive relief  
/ay+ any en=cem5t action or adv]se      
p]sonnel action pr$icat$ on ! cov]$     
,,nda2  7#b7 a decl>ation t ! *all5g$   
,,nda provision is void z appli$ to !   
disclos$ in=mation2  7#c7 comp5satory   
damages1 includ+ lo/ wages1 b5efits1 &  
o!r economic h>m2  7#d7 punitive damages
 aga9/ an individual def5dant :o act$ ) 
malice or reckless disreg>d = !         
employee's protect$ disclosure rights2 &
  7#e7 reasonable attorney's fees &     
co/s4  7c7 ,accrual2 rip5ess ,a cause ( 
action "u ?is section accrues ^u ! e>li]
 (-- 7#a7 any writt5 or oral            
communication by an ag5cy (ficial to !  
employee t ! employee is "u inve/igation
 =1 or may be subject to discipl9e aris+
 f1 an alleg$ ,,nda violation :]e !     
und]ly+ conduct w\ld con/itute a        

protect$ disclosure2 or  7#b7 any adv]se
 p]sonnel action pr$icat$ 9 :ole or 9 "p
 on an alleg$ violation ( a cov]$ ,,nda4
  7d7 ,burd5 ( pro( ,9 an action "u ?is 
section-- 7#a7 ! employee be>s ! initial
 burd5 ( mak+ a prima facie %[+ t !     
?reat5$ or actual en=cem5t action 0     
pr$icat$1 at lea/ 9 "p1 on a disclosure 
t ! employee reasonably believ$ to      
con/itute a protect$ disclosure2 &  7#b7
 once a prima facie %[+ is made1 ! burd5
 %ifts to ! ag5cy to demon/rate by cle> 
& conv9c+ evid5ce t ! en=cem5t action   
w\ld h be5 tak5 = reasons entirely      
indep5d5t ( ! protect$ disclosure4  7e7 
,exhau/ion n requir$ ,an employee ne$ n 
exhau/ adm9i/rative rem$ies be=e br++ an
 action "u ?is section4  7f7 ,/atute (  
limitations ,an action "u ?is section   
mu/ be fil$ )9 #c ye>s ( ! date (       
accrual "u subsection 7c74  7g7 ,no     
preemption ( o!r rem$ies ,! rem$y       
provid$ by ?is section is 9 addition to1
 & does n preempt1 any rem$y available  
"u title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 or any

 o!r provision ( law4  #f4 ,/atutory    
supremacy ( :i/lebl[] protection laws   
7a7 ,rule ( supremacy ,no cov]$ ,,nda1  
,,nda template1 ,executive ord]1 ag5cy  
policy1 memor&um1 or o!r executive-bran*
 in/rum5t %all be con/ru$ to-- 7#a7     
limit1 re/rict1 condition1 disc\rage1 or
 p5alize any protect$ disclosure2  7#b7 
waive1 modify1 or r$uce any "r or       
protection conf]r$ by section #bcjb (   
title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 *apt] #d 
( su* title1 section #gbaa ( su* title1 
or any o!r ,f$]al /atute conf]r+        
:i/lebl[] rights ^u ,f$]al employees2 or
  7#c7 s]ve z ! legal basis = any adv]se
 p]sonnel action aga9/ an employee aris+
 f a protect$ disclosure4  7b7          
,conflict2 void provisions ,9 ! ev5t (  
any conflict betwe5 a provision ( a     
cov]$ ,,nda & any provision ( ! /atutes 
li/$ 9 subsection 7a77#b71 ! /atutory   
provision %all control z a matt] ( law4 
,any ,,nda provision t purports to      
re/rict a protect$ disclosure is void ab
 initio & %all h no legal effect1       

reg>dless ( :e!r ! employee sign$ !     
,,nda or any associat$ ackn[l$gm5t4  7c7
 ,affirmative def5se ,9 any adm9i/rative
 or judicial proce$+ 9 :i* an ag5cy     
invokes a cov]$ ,,nda to ju/ify an      
adv]se p]sonnel action1 an employee may 
raise z a complete affirmative def5se ! 
fact t ! und]ly+ disclosure con/itut$ a 
protect$ disclosure4 ,! ag5cy %all be> !
 burd5 ( disprov+ ?is def5se by cle> &  
conv9c+ evid5ce4  7d7 ,codification ,!  
,(fice ( ,p]sonnel ,managem5t %all      
incorporate ! rule ( supremacy e/abli%$ 
9 ?is section z a m&atory provision 9 e 
,,nda template x issues1 revises1 or    
di/ributes to ag5cies4  #g4 ,inspector  
g5]al ov]sight & report+  7a7 ,indep5d5t
 ,,ig review ,be=e an ag5cy may impose  
any cov]$ ,,nda on its employees1 !     
,inspector ,g5]al ( t ag5cy %all-- 7#a7 
indep5d5tly review ! propos$ cov]$ ,,nda
 or ,,nda template2  7#b7 provide to !  
head ( ! ag5cy a writt5 c]tification    
/at+ :e!r1 9 ! ,inspector ,g5]al's      
judgm5t1 ! cov]$ ,,nda complies ) all   

applicable :i/lebl[] protection /atutes 
& ?is ,act2 &  7#c7 transmit !          
c]tification simultane\sly to ! ,(fice (
 ,special ,c\nsel1 ! appropriate        
congressional ov]sight committees1 & !  
,gov]nm5t ,acc\ntability ,(fice4  7b7   
,negative c]tification ,if ! ,inspector 
,g5]al det]m9es t ! cov]$ ,,nda does n  
comply ) applicable law1 ! ,inspector   
,g5]al %all-- 7#a7 describe 9 writ+ ea* 
defici5cy id5tifi$2  7#b7 publi% !      
writt5 description on ! ag5cy's public  
website )9 #e bus9ess days2 &  7#c7     
notify ,congress z provid$ 9 subsection 
7a77#c74  7c7 ,limitation ,an ag5cy t   
receives a negative c]tification may n  
impose ! cov]$ ,,nda until ! id5tifi$   
defici5cies h be5 rem$i$ & a new        
c]tification issu$4  7d7 ,annual report 
to congress ,n lat] ?an #ij days aft] ! 
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 & ,febru>y
 #a ( ea* ye> !reaft]1 ea* ,inspector   
,g5]al %all submit to ! appropriate     
congressional committees an annual      
report on ,,nda practices at !          

,inspector ,g5]al's ag5cy dur+ ! prec$+ 
fiscal ye>4 ,ea* annual report %all     
include-- 7#a7 ! total numb] ( cov]$    
,n,d,as execut$ dur+ ! prec$+ fiscal    
ye>1 disaggregat$ by bureau1 (fice1 &   
position type2  7#b7 ! total numb] (    
en=cem5t proce$+s initiat$1 ?reat5$1 or 
conclud$ dur+ ! prec$+ fiscal ye> 9 :i* 
a cov]$ ,,nda 0 cit$2  7#c7 any in/ance 
9 :i* a cov]$ ,,nda 0 cit$ 9 connection 
) a p]sonnel action & ! und]ly+ conduct 
( ! employee involv$ a disclosure t !   
,inspector ,g5]al believes may h        
con/itut$ a protect$ disclosure2  7#d7  
any corrective action tak5 or recomm5d$2
 &  7#e7 any *anges to ag5cy ,,nda      
templates made dur+ ! prec$+ fiscal ye>4
  7e7 ,,gao review ,n lat] ?an #ah mon?s
 aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act & e  
#c ye>s !reaft]1 ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al ( 
! ,unit$ ,/ates %all conduct an audit ( 
ag5cy ,,nda practices gov]nm5twide &    
%all submit a report to ,congress       
evaluat+ ag5cy compliance ) ?is ,act4   
#h4 ,inspector g5]al removal protections

  7a7 ,prohibition on removal foll[+    
negative c]tification ,! ,presid5t may n
 remove1 place on adm9i/rative leave1 or
 o!rwise dim9i% ! duties or au?ority (  
an ,inspector ,g5]al )9 #b ye>s foll[+ !
 ,inspector ,g5]al's issuance ( a       
negative c]tification "u section #g7;b71
 unless-- 7#a7 ! ,presid5t provides1 n  
few] ?an #cj days be=e ! effective date 
( ! removal1 writt5 notice to bo? *amb]s
 ( ,congress specify+ ! reasons =       
removal2 &  7#b7 ! reasons /at$ 9 su*   
notice d n include1 directly or         
indirectly1 ! ,inspector ,g5]al's       
issuance ( a negative c]tification or ! 
,inspector ,g5]al's ov]sight activities 
"u ?is ,act4  7b7 ,s5ate confirmation ( 
successor ,foll[+ ! removal ( an        
,inspector ,g5]al "u circum/ances       
describ$ 9 subsection 7a71 no p]son may 
s]ve 9 an act+ capacity 9 ! ,inspector  
,g5]al position = m ?an #cj days unless 
! ,presid5t has submitt$ a nom9ation = a
 p]man5t ,inspector ,g5]al to ! ,s5ate4 
,! ,s5ate %all endeavor to consid] su* a

 nom9ation )9 #ij days ( receipt4  7c7  
,rem$ies = improp] removal ,an          
,inspector ,g5]al :o is remov$ 9        
violation ( ?is section may seek        
re9/atem5t & comp5satory damages 9 !    
,unit$ ,/ates ,di/rict ,c\rt = !        
,di/rict ( ,columbia4 ,su* action mu/ be
 fil$ )9 #a ye> ( ! effective date (    
removal4  #i4 ,sev]ability ,if any      
provision ( ?is ,act1 or ! application (
 any provision to any p]son or          
circum/ance1 is held to be              
uncon/itutional or o!rwise invalid1 !   
rema9d] ( ?is ,act & ! application ( its
 provisions to o!r p]sons or            
circum/ances %all n be affect$4  #aj4   
,effective date  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,except z 
provid$ 9 subsection 7b71 ?is ,act %all 
take effect on ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is
 ,act4  7b7 ,transition p]iod = exi/+   
,n,d,as ,) respect to cov]$ ,n,d,as     
execut$ be=e ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is    
,act1 ag5cies %all h #ahj days f su*    
date ( enactm5t to-- 7#a7 br+ exi/+     
,,nda templates into compliance )       

sections #c & #d2 &  7#b7 provide writt5
 notice to all employees subject to     
exi/+ cov]$ ,n,d,as ( _! rights "u ?is  
,act4  7c7 ,application ,dur+ !         
transition p]iod describ$ 9 subsection  
7b71 any cov]$ ,,nda execut$ be=e ! date
 ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act %all be con/ru$ z
 if x conta9$ ! pla9-language rid]      
requir$ by section #c & %all be subject 
to ! /atutory supremacy rule 9 section  
#f4  #aa4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 
,ag5cy ,! t]m ag5cy has ! mean+ giv5 su*
 t]m 9 section #bcjb7;a77#b77;,c7 (     
title #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#b7    
,cov]$ ,,nda ,! t]m cov]$ ,,nda means   
any non-disclosure agreem5t1            
confid5tiality agreem5t1 or sub/antially
 simil> in/rum5t t-- 7,a7 is impos$ or  
requir$ by an ag5cy z a condition (     
employm5t1 cont9u$ employm5t1 onbo>d+1  
or access to ag5cy sy/ems or in=mation2 
&  7,b7 applies to any employee ^:      
duties involve access to s5sitive1      
protect$1 or o!rwise non-public         
,gov]nm5t in=mation4  7#c7 ,employee ,! 

t]m employee means-- 7,a7 an employee z 
su* t]m is def9$ 9 section #baje ( title
 #e1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code2 &  7,b7 a     
contractor or contractor p]sonnel4  7#d7
 ,inspector g5]al ,! t]m ,inspector     
,g5]al means an ,inspector ,g5]al       
appo9t$ "u *apt] #d ( title #e1 ,unit$  
,/ates ,code4  7#e7 ,(fice ( special    
c\nsel ,! t]m ,(fice ( ,special ,c\nsel 
means ! ,(fice ( ,special ,c\nsel       
e/abli%$ "u section #abaa ( title #e1   
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7#f7 ,protect$    
disclosure ,! t]m protect$ disclosure   
has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m disclosure 9     
section #bcjb7;a77#b77;,d7 ( title #e1  
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 & includes any     
disclosure to ,congress or a ,memb] (   
,congress4  7#g7 ,retaliatory ,,nda     
en=cem5t ,! t]m retaliatory ,,nda       
en=cem5t means any actual or ?reat5$    
invocation ( a cov]$ ,,nda by an ag5cy1 
or any adv]se p]sonnel action pr$icat$ 9
 :ole or 9 "p on an alleg$ violation ( a
 cov]$ ,,nda1 :]e ! und]ly+ disclosure  
con/itut$ or w\ld con/itute a protect$  

disclosure4