Three bills would expand whistleblower protections and root out foreign influence in U.S. policy
WASHINGTON – Last week, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) approved three bipartisan bills by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and HSGAC Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-Mich.): the Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act, the Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act and the Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act.
“Whistleblowers working for federal contractors and subcontractors shouldn’t face retaliation for sounding the alarm on waste, fraud and abuse,” Grassley said. “These patriots are critical in safeguarding Americans’ tax dollars. As a long-time advocate for whistleblowers, I’m glad to see the committee pass my legislation to strengthen protections for whistleblowers and close the loopholes that have allowed retaliation.”
“Additionally, the public has a right to know if a foreign government is trying to sway American policy. My bipartisan lobbying disclosure bills would stop individuals from concealing their lobbying efforts and ensure that all foreign actors are exposed. I’m going to continue to work diligently with my colleagues to get all three of these bills to the president’s desk,” Grassley continued.
Background:
The Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act closes existing loopholes in whistleblower protection laws that leave employees of federal contractors who have disclosed waste, fraud or abuse in federal agencies vulnerable to acts of reprisal and allow whistleblower retaliators to escape accountability. It clarifies whistleblower protections cannot be waived by an arbitration agreement or other conditions of employment.
The Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act would require registered lobbyists to affirmatively disclose whether they claim a Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) exemption under the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA), ensuring that foreign government interests cannot represent themselves without transparency. This would help the Justice Department narrow the pool of registrants they are examining for potential FARA violations, without imposing any meaningful additional burden on non-government registrants representing foreign private entities.
The Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act makes clear that lobbying organizations must disclose when foreign governments and political parties participate in their lobbying efforts, regardless of any financial contribution to the lobbying effort. Law enforcement agencies have identified instances in which foreign adversaries exploit an additional loophole in the Lobbying Disclosure Act by using closely connected private organizations and businesses to push their government interests.
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