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H.R. 4043House115th Congress (2017-2019)Passed House

Whistleblower Protection Extension Act of 2017

Sponsored by Rod BlumRep. Rod Blum (R-IA)
Introduced October 12, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 6:38 PM UTC

The Whistleblower Protection Extension Act of 2017 updates the Inspector General Act of 1978 to keep the federal whistleblower protection program active. It changes the title of the agency official from “Ombudsman” to “Coordinator,” adds new duties for that role, and requires more detailed reporting on retaliation cases. The changes affect all federal agencies that have Inspector General offices and the employees they oversee.

Key Provisions

  • Renames the agency “Ombudsman” to “Whistleblower Protection Coordinator” and expands the coordinator’s duties to educate staff, assist inspectors general, and facilitate communication with other oversight bodies
  • Adds a requirement for agencies to report detailed information about retaliation incidents, including the officials involved and any consequences or settlement agreements
  • Gives the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) new responsibilities to support coordinators and develop best‑practice guidance for handling whistleblower disclosures
  • Repeals the sunset provision of the 2012 Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, making the program permanent as of November 26, 2017
  • Requires the coordinator to have direct access to the Inspector General to carry out their responsibilities

Legislative Activity

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12 earlier actions
SenateCalendars Latest Action

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 340.

March 7, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 12, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

October 12, 2017

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

November 2, 2017

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

November 2, 2017

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-510.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

January 11, 2018

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 380.

January 11, 2018

HouseFloor

Mr. Blum moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

March 6, 2018 • 3:40 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1417-1418)

March 6, 2018 • 3:41 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4043.

March 6, 2018 • 3:41 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H1417-1418)

March 6, 2018 • 3:45 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1417-1418)

March 6, 2018 • 3:45 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

March 6, 2018 • 3:46 PM

SenateCalendars

Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 340.

March 7, 2018

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about H.R. 4043 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat
Rod Blum
Rep. Rod BlumR-IA-1 · Mar 6, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4043) to amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to reauthorize the whistleblower protection program, and for other purposes, as…

Record
Gerald E. Connolly
Rep. Gerald E. ConnollyD-VA-11 · Mar 6, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the need for this bill comes into recent focus just today with reports, maybe unconfirmed, that one of the Trump Cabinet members…

Record

Bill Text

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Placed on Calendar SenateIssued March 7, 2018

II

Calendar No. 340

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 4043

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 7, 2018

Received; read twice and placed on the calendar

AN ACT

To amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to reauthorize the whistleblower protection program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Whistleblower Protection Extension Act of 2017.

2.

Reauthorization

(a)

In general

Section 3(d) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1)(C)—

(A)

by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;

(B)

by striking Ombudsman who shall educate agency employees— and inserting the following:

Coordinator who shall—

(i)

educate agency employees—

;

(C)

in subclause (I), as so redesignated, by striking on retaliation and inserting against retaliation;

(D)

in subclause (II), as so redesignated, by striking the period at the end and inserting the following:

, including—

(aa)

the means by which employees may seek review of any allegation of reprisal, including the roles of the Office of the Inspector General, the Office of Special Counsel, the Merit Systems Protection Board, and any other relevant entities; and

(bb)

general information about the timeliness of such cases, the availability of any alternative dispute mechanisms, and avenues for potential relief;

; and

(E)

by adding at the end the following:

(ii)

assist the Inspector General in promoting the timely and appropriate handling and consideration of protected disclosures and allegations of reprisal, to the extent practicable, by the Inspector General; and

(iii)

assist the Inspector General in facilitating communication and coordination with the Special Counsel, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, the agency, Congress, and any other relevant entity regarding the timely and appropriate handling and consideration of protected disclosures, allegations of reprisal, and general matters regarding the implementation and administration of whistleblower protection laws, rules, and regulations.

;

(2)

in paragraph (2), by striking Ombudsman and inserting Coordinator;

(3)

by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and

(4)

by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

(3)

The Whistleblower Protection Coordinator shall have direct access to the Inspector General as needed to accomplish the requirements of this subsection.

.

(b)

Responsibilities of CIGIE

Section 11(c) of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(5)

Additional responsibilities relating to whistleblower protection

The Council shall—

(A)

facilitate the work of the Whistleblower Protection Coordinators designated under section 3(d)(C); and

(B)

in consultation with the Office of Special Counsel and Whistleblower Protection Coordinators from the member offices of the Inspector General, develop best practices for coordination and communication in promoting the timely and appropriate handling and consideration of protected disclosures, allegations of reprisal, and general matters regarding the implementation and administration of whistleblower protection laws, in accordance with Federal law.

.

(c)

Reporting

Section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by amending paragraph (20) to read as follows:

(20)
(A)

a detailed description of any instance of whistleblower retaliation, including information about the official found to have engaged in retaliation; and

(B)

what, if any, consequences the establishment actually imposed to hold the official described in subparagraph (A) accountable;

; and

(2)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

in paragraph (3)(D), by striking and at the end;

(B)

by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and

(C)

by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

(4)

whether the establishment entered into a settlement agreement with the official described in subsection (a)(20)(A), which shall be reported regardless of any confidentiality agreement relating to the settlement agreement; and

.

(d)

Repeal of sunset

(1)

In general

Subsection (c) of section 117 of the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012 (Public Law 112–199; 126 Stat. 1475) is repealed.

(2)

Retroactive effective date

The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on November 26, 2017.

Passed the House of Representatives March 6, 2018.

Karen L. Haas,

Clerk

March 7, 2018

Received; read twice and placed on the calendar