Recognizing and honoring Dawn Wooten and the integral role that whistleblowers play in holding accountable those that endanger members of the public and violate this Nation's laws, often at great personal expense and risk.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 1227 Recognizing and honoring Dawn Wooten and the integral role that whistle- blowers play in holding accountable those that endanger members of the public and violate this Nation’s laws, often at great personal expense and risk. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NOVEMBER 18, 2020 Ms. WILSON of Florida (for herself, Ms. NORTON, Mrs. HAYES, and Mr. MCGOVERN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Recognizing and honoring Dawn Wooten and the integral role that whistleblowers play in holding accountable those that endanger members of the public and violate this Nation’s laws, often at great personal expense and risk. Whereas more than 20 whistleblower statutes protect employ- ees from retaliation for reporting violations of various laws related to public health and safety; Whereas whistleblowers put their careers and livelihood, as well as that of their families, at risk to alert authorities and the American public of grave abuses; Whereas, on September 14, 2020, a coalition of organizations filed a whistleblower complaint on behalf of Dawn Wooten, a nurse working at the Irwin County Detention VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:50 Nov 18, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1227.IH HR1227 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 1227 IH Center in Georgia, alleging mistreatment of detained mi- grant women under United States Immigration and Cus- toms Enforcement custody, including medical neglect and a high rate of unnecessary hysterectomies without in- formed consent; Whereas Dawn Wooten has been a practicing nurse for more than 10 years, 3 of which she was employed at the Irwin County Detention Center; Whereas Dawn Wooten contends that she was demoted and reprimanded when she spoke out about abusive practices; Whereas the practices described in Dawn Wooten’s account, including the sterilization of migrant women without con- sent, constitute grave human rights violations; and Whereas Dawn Wooten’s allegations have been corroborated by other members of the Irwin County Detention Center medical staff, and one former detainee has come forward to share that she underwent an invasive surgery without her consent while being held at the facility: Now, there- fore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) recognizes the integral role that whistle- 2 blowers play in holding accountable those that en- 3 danger members of the public and violate this Na- 4 tion’s laws, often at great personal expense and risk; 5 (2) honors Dawn Wooten for her courage in 6 alerting the American public to the reported abuses 7 that took place at the Irwin County Detention Cen- 8 ter in Georgia; and 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:50 Nov 18, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR1227.IH HR1227 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 1227 IH (3) encourages all people of the United States 1 to follow Dawn Wooten’s example of bringing light 2 to violations that endanger vulnerable populations, 3 such as detained migrants. 4 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:50 Nov 18, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR1227.IH HR1227 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS