Congressional Whistleblower Protection Act of 2021

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the ``Affordable EVs for Working Families Act of 2021.''

This bill is an important measure that will ensure more widespread, equitable adoption of electric vehicles by creating a tax credit for buyers of pre-owned electric vehicles, similar to the tax credit that exists for purchasers of new electric vehicles.

Starting now, and over the next several decades, the United States must take swift, decisive action to reduce our carbon emissions-- especially from the transportation sector, which makes up one-third of all U.S. carbon emissions.

I am proud to say that California has led the way in the adoption of low- and zero-emission vehicles for several decades by incentivizing the development and purchase of electric and hybrid electric vehicles, and setting high fuel economy standards that 13 States have opted to follow.

According to research released just last month by the Pew Research Center, California has by far the highest share of electric vehicles of any State in the Nation--on average, 12 electric vehicles registered per 1,000 people.

As a result, California now has the largest pre-owned electric vehicle market in the nation. Sales for pre-owned electric vehicles in California have grown significantly in recent years.

However, a study released just last month by Energy Innovation found that for lower-income households, the up-front costs of purchasing an electric vehicle presents an especially large hurdle, despite the long- term cost savings that they offer, such as on gas and maintenance.

Transportation is the second-largest expense for all U.S. households, but presents a particular burden for lower-income households-- suggesting that incentives for pre-owned buyers targeted toward lower and middle-income communities can increase adoption of electric vehicles in those communities significantly, and further accelerate overall adoption.

We cannot miss an opportunity to ensure that as we electrify our transportation sector, electric vehicles become an option for all families--not just those who can afford new ones.

My bill would do just that.

My bill would provide a $2,500 tax credit to purchasers of preowned electric vehicles, similar to the credit already offered to purchasers of new electric vehicles. The credit only applies to vehicles that cost $25,000 or less, and would be phased down for buyers whose adjusted gross income exceeds $75,000 per year for individuals and $150,000 for joint filers.

My bill also includes critical safeguards such as a vehicle identification number reporting requirements and a 2-year previous ownership requirement to ensure that any attempted fraud is quickly caught.

I would like to thank Congressmen Jimmy Gomez who is introducing the House companion to this bill, and has carried this effort in the House, along with Congressman Mike Thompson who included a similar provision in the House clean energy tax incentives package, the GREEN Act.

I would also like to thank the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, California Air Resources Board, our utilities and other California localities that have led the way on this policy by offering their own rebates for pre-owned electric vehicles.

Now, with the Senate considering historic investments in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, it is time for the federal government to follow California's lead and ensure that buyers of pre- owned vehicles receive a tax credit similar to the one for buyers of new EVs.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Judiciary Accountability Act of 2021. I thank Representatives Johnson, Speier, Nadler, Torres, and Mace, along with my cosponsors, Senators Whitehouse, Murray, and Durbin, for working with me to finally ensure that employees of the Federal judiciary have strong statutory rights and protections against discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and other forms of workplace misconduct.

More than 30,000 people work in the Federal judiciary. As with any organization of this size, the judiciary is not immune from workplace misconduct.

Over the years, however, a variety of factors have worked together to prevent instances of workplace misconduct within the judiciary from coming to light. There is a unique power imbalance between the Federal judges who sit atop this vast organization and the clerks, staffers, and other employees who rely on connections and recommendations to advance their careers. The cloak of confidentiality ensures what happens in chambers stays in chambers. And, perhaps most important, there is a lack of legal recourse available to judicial employees who are denied even the most fundamental workplace protections. Indeed, the Federal judiciary is one of the few employers--private or public--whose employees are not protected by state or federal civil rights laws.

Despite all these reasons to keep quiet, a number of victims have bravely come forward to report serious harassment by Federal judges over the past several years. In December 2017, six former law clerks and staffers accused Ninth Circuit Judge Alex Kozinski of subjecting them to a range of inappropriate sexual conduct and comments. In September 2019, the Tenth Circuit Judicial Council issued an order finding that District Court Judge Carlos Murguia had harassed multiple employees over a period of years, including by subjecting them to sexually suggestive comments; inappropriate text messages; and excessive, non-work-related contact. In February 2020, a former law clerk to the late-Ninth Circuit Judge Stephen Reinhardt accused the judge of a months-long harassment campaign.

In the face of this egregious misconduct and Congressional pressure, the federal judiciary has taken only small, limited steps to protect its employees. It is not enough.

The Judiciary Accountability Act fills the void left by the judiciary's inaction and extends to judicial branch employees the same anti-discrimination rights and remedies other government sector employees and private sector workers have had for decades. It also goes further. Among other things, it would create an Office of Judicial Integrity to administer a nationwide, confidential reporting system; establish a Special Counsel for Equal Employment Opportunity empowered to investigate all workplace misconduct complaints; form an Office of Employee Advocacy to assist in judicial branch employees in matters relating to workplace discrimination and harassment; protect whistleblowers by prohibiting retaliation; and establish a comprehensive workplace misconduct prevention program.

These reforms are not only necessary, they are long overdue. I therefore encourage my colleagues to support the Judiciary Accountability Act.