IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 240 Expressing support for the designation of July 30, 2019, as ‘‘National Whistleblower Appreciation Day’’. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 14, 2019 Ms. SPEIER (for herself, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. MEADOWS, Miss RICE of New York, Ms. NORTON, and Ms. TITUS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of July 30, 2019, as ‘‘National Whistleblower Appreciation Day’’. Whereas, in 1777, before the passage of the Bill of Rights, 10 sailors and marines blew the whistle on misconduct that was harmful to the United States; Whereas the Continental Congress unanimously supported the whistleblowers in words and deeds, including by re- leasing Government records and authorizing payment for legal expenses incurred by the whistleblowers incurred in defending against a retaliatory criminal libel lawsuit brought against them; Whereas, on July 30, 1778, in demonstration of their full support for whistleblowers, the Members of the Conti- nental Congress unanimously enacted the first whistle- VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Mar 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR240.IH HR240 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HRES 240 IH blower legislation in the United States that read: ‘‘Re- solved, That it is the duty of all persons in the service of the United States, as well as all other the inhabitants thereof, to give the earliest information to Congress or other proper authority of any misconduct, frauds or mis- demeanors committed by any officers or persons in the service of these states, which may come to their knowl- edge’’; Whereas whistleblowers risk their careers, jobs, and reputa- tions by reporting waste, fraud, and abuse to the proper authorities; Whereas in providing the proper authorities with lawful dis- closures, whistleblowers save the taxpayers of the United States billions of dollars each year and serve the public interest by ensuring that the United States remains an ethical and safe place; and Whereas it is the public policy of the United States to en- courage, in accordance with Federal law (including the Constitution of the United States, rules, and regulations) and consistent with the protection of classified informa- tion (including sources and methods of detection of clas- sified information), honest and good faith reporting of misconduct, fraud, misdemeanors, and other crimes to the appropriate authority at the earliest time possible: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House— 1 (1) designates ‘‘National Whistleblower Appre- 2 ciation Day’’; and 3 (2) ensures that the Federal Government imple- 4 ments the intent of the Founding Fathers, as re- 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Mar 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR240.IH HR240 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HRES 240 IH flected in the legislation enacted on July 30, 1778, 1 by encouraging each executive agency to recognize 2 National Whistleblower Appreciation Day by— 3 (A) informing employees, contractors work- 4 ing on behalf of United States taxpayers, and 5 members of the public about the legal right of 6 a United States citizen to ‘‘blow the whistle’’ to 7 the appropriate authority by honest and good 8 faith reporting of misconduct, fraud, mis- 9 demeanors, or other crimes; and 10 (B) acknowledging the contributions of 11 whistleblowers to combating waste, fraud, 12 abuse, and violations of laws and regulations of 13 the United States. 14 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:06 Mar 15, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR240.IH HR240 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS