A resolution designating July 30, 2019, as "National Whistleblower Appreciation Day".

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 194 Designating July 30, 2019, as ‘‘National Whistleblower Appreciation Day’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MAY 8, 2019 Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. TILLIS, Ms. BALDWIN, Mrs. FISCHER, Mr. PETERS, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. CARPER, Ms. ERNST, Mr. JOHNSON, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. DUR- BIN, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. ENZI, Ms. SINEMA, Ms. COLLINS, and Ms. WAR- REN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Com- mittee on the Judiciary JULY 23, 2019 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating 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 fraud and misconduct that was harmful to the United States; Whereas the Founding Fathers unanimously supported the whistleblowers in words and deeds, including by releasing government records and providing monetary assistance for the reasonable legal expenses necessary to prevent re- taliation against the whistleblowers; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Jul 24, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR194.ATS SR194 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 SRES 194 ATS Whereas, on July 30, 1778, in demonstration of their full support for whistleblowers, the members of the Conti- nental Congress unanimously passed the first whistle- 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’’ (legislation of July 30, 1778, reprinted in Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, ed. Wor- thington C. Ford et al. (Washington, DC, 1904–37), 11:732); 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 Senate— 1 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Jul 24, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR194.ATS SR194 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 SRES 194 ATS (1) designates July 30, 2019, as ‘‘National 1 Whistleblower Appreciation Day’’; and 2 (2) ensures that the Federal Government imple- 3 ments the intent of the Founding Fathers, as re- 4 flected in the legislation passed on July 30, 1778 5 (relating to whistleblowers), by encouraging each ex- 6 ecutive agency to recognize National Whistleblower 7 Appreciation Day by— 8 (A) informing employees, contractors work- 9 ing on behalf of the taxpayers of the United 10 States, and members of the public about the 11 legal right of a United States citizen to ‘‘blow 12 the whistle’’ to the appropriate authority by 13 honest and good faith reporting of misconduct, 14 fraud, misdemeanors, or other crimes; and 15 (B) acknowledging the contributions of 16 whistleblowers to combating waste, fraud, 17 abuse, and violations of laws and regulations of 18 the United States. 19 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Jul 24, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR194.ATS SR194 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS