Members of the bipartisan Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus on Thursday introduced a resolution to formally designate July 30 as “Whistleblower Appreciation Day.”
“Workers who come forward to report fraud or misconduct in their agencies are frequently punished by their superiors for simply telling the truth,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican who serves as the group’s chairman. “These brave citizens should not be penalized, they should be praised.”
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“Congress has an obligation to stand up for individuals who risk their jobs and reputations to shine a light on threats to public safety and wasted taxpayer dollars,” added vice chairman Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
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The resolution is co-sponsored by all 14 members of the group, which was launched by Grassley and Wyden in 2014. Whistleblower advocates have long contended that federal officials often run roughshod over rules designed to protect those who expose wrongdoing in the government, especially in the national security and intelligence communities.
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The resolution states that it would seek to honor those who “blow the whistle” by “honest and good faith reporting of misconduct, fraud, misdemeanors, or other crimes to the appropriate authorities.”
“Whistleblowers in far too many parts of the government continue to face retaliation for speaking out,” Wyden said, adding that the caucus “is committed to fighting for fair treatment for these brave individuals.”
