110 HR 4047 IH: Private Sector Whistleblower
U.S. House of Representatives
2007-11-01
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.This Act may be cited as the
Private Sector Whistleblower
Protection Streamlining Act of 2007
.
<enum>I</enum><header>Private Sector
Employment Whistleblower Protections</header>
<section id="H7116B5D06E8C4EFAAD615400D583DC4"><enum>101.</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">As used in this title, the following
definitions apply:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HE0A0AB70D26049A383F778A300C2004C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Applicable
law</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>applicable
law</term> means any Federal law, rule, or regulation, or a law, rule or
regulation of a State or political subdivision of a State implementing any
Federal law, rule or regulation, relating to—</text>
<subparagraph id="H36C22B70075B485E8157756C8B292D96"><enum>(A)</enum><text>health and health
care;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFA98F806AED9447983E1339F1D1E236D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>environmental
protection;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB912786F2E1F48A589A6E64FAF8D005E"><enum>(C)</enum><text>food and drug
safety;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE291DF4E2D634497BD93F7C0912571F8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>transportation
safety;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H82A778259DB8438CA300D8A3FBF41EE6"><enum>(E)</enum><text>working conditions
and benefits;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1F069797DBF94E2D95915D9BFEA26463"><enum>(F)</enum><text>building and
construction-related requirements, including safety requirements and structural
and engineering standards;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF6C3EA055BE64C7DA81ECD04683DE7E0"><enum>(G)</enum><text>energy, homeland,
and community security, including facility safety;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAE1CF3F745BB4DA4961EF3DA66167760"><enum>(H)</enum><text>financial
transactions or reporting requirements, including banking, insurance, and
securities laws; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4330269C97A7432D00EEA1AC64E4B4F8"><enum>(I)</enum><text>consumer
protection.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA2D792AB1F9948FA82E722D9FAED1E4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clear and
convincing evidence</header><text>The term <term>clear and convincing
evidence</term> means evidence indicating that the matter to be proved is
highly probable or reasonably certain.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H007E506CD5BF44D1A6C0EA3C19007500"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Contributing
factor</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term
<term>contributing factor</term> means any factor which, alone or in
combination with other factors, affects in any way the outcome of the
decision.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE034BA65E7CC4421BD09DF634F65EFBD"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Employee</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>employee</term> means any
person receiving compensation from or acting on behalf of an employer, being
considered for employment by the employer, or previously employed by an
employer, including any working as an associate, person employed on a temporary
or part-time basis, or employed by a contractor or subcontractor of an
employer.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HD8AA4A0F104C4232BDEB3395A563445E"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Employer</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>employer</term> means any
person (including one or more individuals, partnerships, associations,
corporations, legal representatives, mutual companies, joint-stock companies,
trusts, unincorporated organizations, nongovernmental organizations, or
trustees) engaged in profit or nonprofit business affecting commerce, including
any subsidiaries, affiliates, or the foreign operations of any business that
are subject to applicable law, any entity of a State government or political
subdivision of a State, or any nongovernmental organization, and any contractor
or subcontractor of another employer.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HB178D80C857243A794C4A47B58274D39"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Manager</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>manager</term> means any
person who has direct, implied, or apparent authority over the work performance
of a whistleblower, directly or indirectly through subordinates, or a person
who has the direct, implied, or apparent authority to recommend or to take
corrective action regarding the activities or policies of the employer or to
remedy a violation of an applicable law.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD2D35A0A88934719BD98364E46B91293"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Media</header><text>The
term <term>media</term> includes a member of the print, radio, television, or
internet media.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H3A1B2FA42A6942D0AEAA0052678BDA14"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Protected
information</header><text>The term <term>protected information</term> means any
information that a whistleblower reasonably believes evidences—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H593EC23F6E994758869289CB5CE75C66"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a violation or the intent to commit a
violation, by the employer or a subsidiary or business affiliate of the
employer, of an applicable law;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H363CD38B182B4670B5CA82DA142A9EA"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a hazard or potential danger to the health
or safety of any employee or to the public, including any injury or illness;
or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H5F6C4CE1B3024DF3BF2FAB507E96CA32"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">fraud on the part of the employer or a
business affiliate or subsidiary of the employer in connection with the
implementation of or compliance with an applicable law or a standard of
practice established by a professional standards setting body.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H7BC1099E922747C6B8B23EB4EAD60006"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Public
body</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>public
body</term> means Congress, any State legislature or popularly elected local
government body, any Federal, State or local regulatory, administrative, or
public agency, authority, or instrumentality or combination thereof, any
Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency, prosecutorial office, or
police or peace officer, any Federal, State or local court or other
adjudicative body, or any division, board, bureau, office, committee, or
commission of any such public bodies, or any organization or credentialing body
that establishes or enforces standards of professional conduct.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H921E26C9BDB9471C983D9003923D5903"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Responsible
party</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term
<term>responsible party</term> means any employer, any professional membership
organization, including a certification, disciplinary, or other professional
body, and any agency or licensee of the Federal government, and includes a
person acting directly or indirectly in the interest of another responsible
party.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HA7EEF6969A24474480FEFB89A8EC14C9"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Reasonably
believes</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term
<term>reasonably believes</term>, with respect to information that may be
protected information, means that a disinterested observer with a similar level
of education, skill and experience and with knowledge of the essential facts
known to or readily ascertained by the whistleblower could conclude that such
information is protected information, and the determination of reasonable
belief in this context is a subjective standard which is a question of
fact.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2C873B26F04A431381830330C5FD40F7"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The
term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Labor.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H25F303282E5244768E8BB308B57ED556"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Unfavorable
personnel action</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term
<term>unfavorable personnel action</term> means any action or inaction, whether
taken, recommended, or threatened, directly or indirectly unfavorable to the
whistleblower, or family member of the whistleblower, by any responsible party,
including current employer of the whistleblower, including termination,
performance appraisal or action, discipline, reduction in pay or benefits,
transfer, reassignment, demotion, withholding of training or other advancement
opportunities, removal of resources, the denial, suspension, or revocation of a
security clearance, investigation, peer review, law enforcement referral, or
prosecution, filing criminal or civil charges, change in seniority rights,
denial of advancement, denial of contract, revocation of security credentials,
blacklisting, listing on a practitioner databank, violence or other physical
action, any other discrimination or other action that negatively affects the
terms or conditions, or privileges of employment of such whistleblower, or any
other conduct that would dissuade a reasonable person from engaging in
activities protected by this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF2896D7D76A742A7B643554F95F93312"><enum>(14)</enum><header>Whistleblower</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>whistleblower</term>
includes an employee, independent contractor, or any member or staff of a
professional membership organization or other professional body, including
professionals with institutional privileges or appointments to an organization,
who engages in the protected activity described in section 102(a).</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HC6AF8E1D080E426E97739623F0E411BC"><enum>102.</enum><header>Protection
against retaliation or discrimination against whistleblowers</header>
<subsection id="H2284A9886D534719833623DC4F2FAB51"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding the
requirements of any other law, no responsible party shall take any unfavorable
personnel action against a whistleblower if such action is due, in whole or in
part, to any lawful act done, perceived to have been done, or intended to be
done by the whistleblower to—</text>
<paragraph id="H23AC6D7848F44A19B768949E83258246"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">communicate or disclose, without
restriction as to place, form, motive, context, forum, or prior disclosure,
including disclosure in the ordinary course of the whistleblower’s duties, to a
manager, public body, or the media, or to the public, any protected
information, where disclosure is not prohibited by law or because such
information is classified, in which case the information may be disclosed to an
official eligible by law to receive such information and designated by the
employer, or to a relevant regulatory authority, law enforcement agency or
Inspector General;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFFC2F19B26F64234AE05527542E0C0A"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">take action to initiate, testify,
cooperate, or otherwise assist or participate in an investigation or proceeding
by a public body, or any proceeding authorized by applicable law, or take
action indicating that the whistleblower is about to testify, cooperate, or
otherwise assist such an investigation or proceeding;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H3B94838715F648A3AFA5F2082646E57"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">object to or refuse to participate in any
activity, policy, practice, or assigned task which the whistleblower reasonably
believes is in violation of an applicable law or endangers the safety or health
or the whistleblower or others;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA138E071D0B34BBDB988DED490DC7146"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">inform or discuss with co-workers of the
whistleblower, experts or corroborating witnesses, a representative of the
whistleblower, a safety and health or similar workplace committee, or a family
member of the whistleblower, any protected information, where disclosure is not
prohibited by law or because it is classified; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD1D0E1245BFF4844A5A3E73842B1A892"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">otherwise avail himself or herself of the
rights set forth in this title or other applicable law, or assist another
whistleblower in asserting the rights available under this title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5C65EFE31C754550A7D876210998B051"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Broad
construction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It is the sense
of Congress that the provisions of this section and section 101 shall be
construed broadly to maximize the Act’s remedial objectives and for the benefit
of the public.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H819105678F8340B088967CDEADA15340"><enum>103.</enum><header>Enforcement</header>
<subsection id="HD58C336E66F044358B7677636E3B7DB8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Complaint; right
of action</header>
<paragraph id="H6CDB08D2F5C74B05BE201FB3238FF3D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A whistleblower who
believes that he or she has been discharged or otherwise discriminated against
by any responsible party in violation of section 102(a) may seek the relief
described in this section, either by—</text>
<subparagraph id="HB72C0C5248B74DCAA064AB48E76508EE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>filing a complaint
with the Secretary as described in subsection (b); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD669E05C908548B599A846346900E51F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>bringing an action
at law or equity in the appropriate district court of the United States as
described in subsection (c).</text>
</subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">Except as
provided in subsection (b)(11), a whistleblower, having filed a complaint under
subparagraph (A), may not bring an action under subparagraph (B).</continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB4680991A849486DAA796356029932F3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Statute of
limitations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A whistleblower
may take either action permitted by the preceding paragraph not later than 1
year after the later of—</text>
<subparagraph id="H4F9FA866EE504FD0B2A595F3D3C0AFAE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the date on which
such violation occurs; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6A178044E01849A4AF939FB79D6EF12F"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the date on which the whistleblower knows
or should reasonably have known that such violation occurred.</text>
</subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">For purposes
of this paragraph, a violation shall be considered to have occurred on the last
date on which such violation continues.</continuation-text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5356ADADE7424514B000ED766B054FA4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Department of
Labor complaint procedure</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H59F86FB4B10F4477B06F9BE4C858660"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Notification of
public body</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon receipt of a
complaint under this section, the Secretary shall provide prompt notice to the
appropriate public body of any protected information referenced in the
complaint of a violation of section 102(a). The public body’s determination on
whether or not a violation has occurred, nor its action or inaction, shall not
be considered by the Secretary.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8FBD434E8C0441D49FBDF94BD6E1D6F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Election of
procedure; exclusion</header>
<subparagraph id="HBEF51E1DAEA5490F8EB5A5B69235F8B"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Election of
procedure</header><text>Upon receipt of a complaint under this section, the
Secretary shall inform the complainant (or any legal counsel retained by
complainant) of any program for administering whistleblower complaints
described in section 202 that may be applicable to the complainant’s situation,
and obtain the complainant’s consent as to the program under which the
complainant wishes to proceed. No action may proceed unless a complainant with
such an election makes it, and such an election is binding. If the complaint is
to be processed under this title, the Secretary shall provide written notice to
the responsible party named in the complaint of the filing of the complaint,
the substance of the evidence supporting the complaint, and of the
opportunities that will be afforded to such responsible party under this
subsection.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBE17651656494C00A88B94DD9D214F9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exclusion</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No complaint by a government employee that
is within the scope of the Whistleblower Protection Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/5/1201">5 U.S.C. 1201</external-xref> note)
shall be considered under the provisions of this title, provided, however, that
this exclusion does not diminish any rights a whistleblower may have under any
program for administering whistleblower complaints described in section 202.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H319C6B21CBAF4F769BD62E279546759F"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Decision to
investigate or dismiss complaint</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall, based on the criteria
set forth in paragraph (d)(1), either—</text>
<subparagraph id="H4D457DF3DF1A4A8C86AB5B6386F3C8FA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>make a decision to
investigate the complaint under paragraph (5); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1564341928A443C480F9C091914F2E00"><enum>(B)</enum><text>make a final
decision to dismiss the complaint.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8DB3F8848C29406AAD491C58B291BAD"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Temporary relief
during investigation</header><text>If the complaint is not dismissed under
paragraph (3), the Secretary shall, upon request, issue a preliminary order
providing for temporary reinstatement of the complainant while the Secretary is
conducting an investigation pursuant to paragraph (5). If a hearing is not
requested as provided for in paragraph (7), such preliminary order shall be
deemed a final order that is not subject to judicial review.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAFDE161D2AEE4743BA0249782000616F"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Investigation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall investigate any
complaint not dismissed under paragraph (3). The Secretary shall afford the
responsible party named in the complaint an opportunity to submit to the
Secretary a written response to the complaint and to meet with a representative
of the Secretary to present statements from witnesses. The complainant shall be
provided an opportunity to meet with a representative of the Secretary and
rebut any statements provided to the Secretary by the responsible party named
in the complaint. In conducting such investigation, the Secretary may issue
subpoenas requiring the deposition of or the attendance and testimony of
witnesses and the production of any evidence, including any books, papers, or
documents, relating to the matter under investigation. The Secretary shall
complete the investigation and issue a decision in accordance with the criteria
set forth in subsection (d)(2) not later than 30 days after the date of receipt
of a complaint. The Secretary shall notify, in writing, the complainant and the
responsible party named in the complaint of the Secretary’s findings.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H850E4D18D551409BB743B64B5326EDC"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Preliminary order
following investigation</header><text>If the Secretary finds that a violation
of section 102(a) has occurred, the Secretary shall issue a preliminary order
providing the relief prescribed by paragraph (10). If a hearing is not timely
requested as provided for in paragraph (7), such preliminary order shall be
deemed a final order of the Secretary that is not subject to judicial
review.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1B6AA847EC694FD7A519E515C3068889"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Hearing</header>
<subparagraph id="HE4C1081ECE774F7BB055E2B6E1D2AC88"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Request for
hearing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The complainant or
responsible party alleged to have committed a violation of section 102(a) may
request a hearing on the record before an administrative law judge—</text>
<clause id="HA5DDE1FFB57A441EAEB14E6E871692E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>if
the complainant or the responsible party alleged to have committed a violation
of section 102(a) objects to a preliminary order of temporary reinstatement or
preliminary order for relief and files such objections and request for a
hearing not later than 30 days after receiving notification of such preliminary
order; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H2BE6B9B121D2436C8F85F0631E2B3455"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if the Secretary has not issued a decision
under paragraph (5) within 30 days of the receipt of the complaint.</text>
</clause><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subparagraph">The
filing of objections under clause (i) shall not operate to stay any
reinstatement remedy contained in a preliminary order issued pursuant to either
paragraph (4) or paragraph (6).</continuation-text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5B71963BA9C147769FB58251B9BF4816"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Procedures</header><text>Such
hearing request shall be granted, and shall be conducted expeditiously and in
accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. In conducting such
proceeding, the Secretary may issue subpoenas requiring the deposition of or
the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of any evidence,
including any books, papers, or documents, relating to the matter under
consideration. A decision issued in accordance with the criteria set forth in
subsection (d)(2), shall be issued not later than 90 days after the date on
which a hearing was requested under this paragraph. The parties and the
Secretary shall promptly be notified of the decision. If the administrative law
judge find that a violation of section 102(a) has occurred, the judge shall
issue a preliminary order providing the relief prescribed by paragraph (10). If
review under paragraph (8) is not timely requested, such preliminary order
shall be deemed a final order of the Secretary that is not subject to judicial
review.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H377D4DCB673C49A5AB3B01CD35E4ABED"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Further
administrative review</header><text>Not later than 10 days after the date of
notification of a decision by an administrative law judge under paragraph (7),
the complainant or the responsible party alleged to have committed a violation
of section 102(a) may file objections to specified portions thereof and request
a further review by the Secretary. The Secretary shall have discretion as to
whether to grant such a review and shall be limited to determining whether the
decision of the administrative law judge was based upon substantial evidence.
If review is granted, the decision of the administrative law judge shall be
stayed pending the completion of further review, except for any order of
reinstatement which shall be stayed only upon motion. The final decision and
order of the Secretary shall be issued not later than 30 days after the
administrative law judge issues a decision. If judicial review under paragraph
(11) is not timely requested, such preliminary order shall be deemed a final
order of the Secretary that is not subject to judicial review.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5A1BD1B5D2024D78AED17D49D6B719A1"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Settlement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At any time before issuance of a final
order, a proceeding under this subsection may be terminated on the basis of a
settlement agreement entered into by the Secretary, or administrative law judge
conducting a hearing, the complainant, and the responsible party alleged to
have committed the violation. The Secretary or administrative law judge
conducting a hearing may not accept any settlement that contains conditions
that are contrary to the public policy of this title, including any
restrictions or activity protected by this Act, and the right to seek future
employment without discrimination prohibited by this Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7822B6F8E24E4B6197A8FFDE40046E7B"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Remedy</header><text>If,
in response to a complaint filed under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary of
Labor determines that a violation of
<internal-xref idref="HC6AF8E1D080E426E97739623F0E411BC" legis-path="3.">section 102(a)</internal-xref> has occurred, the Secretary
shall order the responsible party who committed such violation to—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC2DE74AE1F274D72ABC3D2986222F3B8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>take affirmative
action to abate the violation;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD296AF8FCBC149AA876EC6402C181363"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">reinstate the complainant to his or her
former position and with the same seniority status together with the
compensation (including back pay and interest) and restore the terms, rights,
conditions, and privileges associated with his or her employment, and provide
preference to the complainant to transfer to any available position that
provides equivalent or better compensation, terms, conditions and privileges of
employment for which the complainant is qualified;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H42CC26F9FA914AF2ADDC4B5B11BEC96"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide compensatory damages and
consequential damages to the complainant, including relief for emotional
distress and harm to reputation, and may include punitive damages;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9F8CB1A19E9B45748E2FC817A42453EE"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">expunge all warnings, reprimands or
derogatory references that have been placed in paper or electronic records or
databases of any type relating to the actions by the complainant that gave rise
to the unfavorable personnel action, and, at the complainant’s direction, send
a copy of the decision on the complaint to any person whom the complainant
reasonably believes may have received such unfavorable information; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H09B0F57B51384F24006924FCDF189F51"><enum>(E)</enum><text>post appropriate
public notice of the violation.</text>
</subparagraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="paragraph">If such an
order is issued under this paragraph, the Secretary, at the request of the
complainant, shall assess against the responsible party against whom the order
is issued a sum equal to the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses
(including attorneys’ and expert witness fees) reasonably incurred, as
determined by the Secretary, by the complainant for, or in connection with, the
bringing the complaint upon which the order was issued.</continuation-text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEBD49126F0AC47F991EBB42EB98027E5"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Inaction by the
Secretary</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding
subsection (a), if the Secretary has not issued a final decision within 180
days of the filing of the complaint, the complainant may bring an action at law
or equity for de novo review in the appropriate district court of the United
States, as described in subsection (c), which shall have jurisdiction over such
an action without regard to the amount in controversy, and which action shall,
at the request of either party to such action, be tried by the court with a
jury.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD23732933D2D48BA8394FA9B9DE3A84F"><enum>(12)</enum><header>Judicial
Review</header>
<subparagraph id="H4E7E3C605D214F4BB52BAEDF52EADC4F"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Appeal to court
of appeals</header><text>Any complainant or responsible party adversely
affected or aggrieved by a final order issued under this subsection for which
review is available, may obtain review of the order in the United States Court
of Appeals for the circuit in which the violation, with respect to which the
order was issued, allegedly occurred or the circuit in which the complainant
resided on the date of such violation. The petition for review must be filed
not later than 60 days after the date the final order of the Secretary was
received. Review shall conform to <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/7">chapter 7</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code. The
commencement of proceedings under this subparagraph shall not, unless ordered
by the court, operate as a stay of the order.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA6B92042465F413094C43C24710000B3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Limitation on
collateral attack</header><text>An order of the Secretary with respect to which
review could have been obtained under
<internal-xref idref="H4E7E3C605D214F4BB52BAEDF52EADC4F" legis-path="4.(b)(4)(A)">subparagraph (A)</internal-xref> shall not be subject
to judicial review in any criminal or other civil proceeding.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H19C4D013FC8747DBBFAB7645BBED8660"><enum>(13)</enum><header>Enforcement of
order</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whenever any
responsible party has failed to comply with a final order issued under this
subsection, including a final order for temporary relief, the Secretary or the
complainant on whose behalf the order was issued may file a civil action in the
United States district court for the district in which the violation was found
to occur to enforce such order. If both the Secretary and the person on whose
behalf the order was issued file such an action for enforcement, the action of
the Secretary shall take precedence. In actions brought under this paragraph,
the district courts shall have jurisdiction to grant all appropriate relief
including, injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and reasonable attorneys
and expert witness fees. In addition to enforcing the order, the court shall
assess a penalty of not greater than $10,000 a month against any person who
fails to comply with a final order issued under this subsection, which shall be
awarded to the party seeking enforcement.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE06ED5619D5F4CD19E159B1B5DE6BFBC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>District court
procedure</header>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H0732687D689E4A4E8FFEC6B5AB20EE46"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Notification</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon receipt of a complaint brought under
subsection (a)(1)(B) or (b)(11), the court shall provide prompt notice to the
appropriate public body of any protected information referenced in the
complaint of a violation of section 102(a), but the public body shall have no
standing to participate in any way in the proceeding nor shall its failure to
take action be considered by the court.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCB6B96A9B0934C6BADD9BED6F6AD5BCC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Summary
judgment</header><text>The Court shall summarily dismiss a complaint filed
under this title based upon the criteria set forth in paragraph (d)(1).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H50F0C45C7160417BA7A1EFFD467C2BF2"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Temporary
relief</header><text>If the complaint is not dismissed by summary judgment, the
court shall, upon request, issue a preliminary order providing for temporary
reinstatement of the complainant.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HD7B5810C2FA047C0B88D35F0B6C11FB3"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Decision</header><text>The
complainant in a case brought under subsection (a)(1)(B) or (b)(11) shall be
entitled to a trial by jury. The jury or the court shall determine whether a
violation of section 102(a) has occurred based upon the criteria set forth in
paragraph (d)(2).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2A3E7EFA72474032810047DBF2C66C96"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Relief</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Court shall have jurisdiction to grant
all appropriate relief to a whistleblower available by law or equity,
including, injunctive relief, compensatory and consequential damages, punitive
damages, reasonable attorneys and expert witness fees, and court costs.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H74805F4A75C54AE090F7D8493B975E29"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Criteria for
dismissal and for decision</header>
<paragraph id="HBD1F063883B9442BB56E91D14D007DC3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Dismissal</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary, administrative law judge, or
the court shall dismiss a complaint filed under this section unless the
complainant makes a prima facie showing that any behavior described in
paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 102(a) was a contributing factor in the
unfavorable personnel action alleged in the complaint. The complainant will be
considered to have made such a showing if the complaint, on its face,
supplemented as appropriate through interviews, depositions, or affidavit of
the complainant, alleges the existence of facts and either direct or
circumstantial evidence to meet the required showing.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H11F76D70EE4941CBBA0227B85D00906D"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Decision</header><text>The
Secretary, administrative law judge, or a court may determine that a violation
of section 102(a) has occurred only if the complainant demonstrates that any
behavior described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 102(a) was a
contributing factor in the unfavorable personnel action alleged in the
complaint. Relief may not be ordered if the responsible party demonstrates by
clear and convincing evidence that the responsible party would have taken the
same unfavorable personnel action in the absence of the behavior described in
paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 102(a).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" id="H7AF4753BBECE46E88C58F9C67558B0E7"><enum>104.</enum><header>Restrictions on
whistleblowing prohibited; confidentiality of whistleblower</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="H2DC8C0B5AEBB4E9EA85741B8F1A66300"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Restrictions on
reporting prohibited; invalid contract clauses</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">No responsible party shall by contract,
policy, or procedure prohibit or restrict any person from engaging in any
action for which a protection against discrimination or retaliation is provided
under <internal-xref idref="HC6AF8E1D080E426E97739623F0E411BC" legis-path="3.">section 102</internal-xref>. Any clause or provision of any
contract for employment or contract with an independent contractor for the
provision of services which purports to limit or restrain an individual from
engaging in any of the actions described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of
<internal-xref idref="H2284A9886D534719833623DC4F2FAB51" legis-path="3.(a)">section 3(a)</internal-xref> as a condition of employment or
a condition of the contract, whether in force before, on, or after the date of
enactment of this title, shall be invalid and void as violative of public
policy as established by this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HCF1767A2D66D4DDCA3B2664578692B15"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Restrictions on
relief provided under this Act prohibited; invalid arbitration clauses</header>
<paragraph id="H32E6D9C01D414E4D8100F0BAFA50FFE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Protection of
procedural rights</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any
clause of any agreement between an responsible party and a whistleblower that
requires arbitration of a claim arising under this title, whether in force
before, on or after the date of enactment of this Act, shall not be
enforceable.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HECA0C96F5AA44DF4BD53C4CE29D6CD20"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exceptions</header>
<subparagraph id="H3662234E3F034F618E71BBABD4F3244"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Waiver or consent
after claim arises</header><text>Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to
any claim if, after such claim arises, the parties involved voluntarily consent
to submit such claim to arbitration.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5B40713CDE4A4B01B3779F004DF0ADC8"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Collective
bargaining agreements</header><text>Paragraph (1) shall not preclude the
enforcement of any of the rights or terms of a valid collective bargaining
agreement.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H4B05326FB44D48A5002D1C69B4081400"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Confidentiality</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The identity or identifying information of
a whistleblower who complains or discloses information as described in
<internal-xref idref="HC6AF8E1D080E426E97739623F0E411BC" legis-path="3.">section 102(a)</internal-xref> to a public body shall remain
confidential and shall not be disclosed by any person except—</text>
<paragraph id="HD287369141ED4ADDB7DC538D63F9814"><enum>(1)</enum><text>upon the knowing
written consent of the whistleblower;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB1C0C6AE53C04088B5EAF86C007B3F43"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the case in
which there is imminent danger to health or public safety or an imminent
violation of criminal law; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H51F5412486DC462D9BDBB5A92BFF78D"><enum>(3)</enum><text>as
otherwise required by law.</text>
</paragraph><continuation-text continuation-text-level="subsection">An employee
of a public body shall provide reasonable advance notice to the affected
employee if disclosure of that person's identity or identifying information is
to occur. An employee of a public body who discloses the identity of a
whistleblower in violation of this subsection shall be considered to be acting
outside such employee’s official duties.</continuation-text></subsection></section><section id="H7F1B2B9A78DF40BAA1A81003883C9C5"><enum>105.</enum><header>Nonpreemption</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="H678A327BFDCA4F4EBA1661AAED6B3300"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Effect on other
laws</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this title
shall be construed to preempt any law, rule, or regulation of a State or
political subdivision of a State and nothing in this title shall be construed
or interpreted to impair or diminish in any way the authority of any State to
enact and enforce any law which provides equivalent or greater protections for
whistleblowers covered under this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H4918B6FD8A534C0C919400274D535656"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rights retained
by whistleblowers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as
provided in section 103(b)(2)(A), nothing in this title shall be construed to
diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of any whistleblower under any
Federal or State law, or under any collective bargaining agreement.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" id="H1F6C9174F0B44AE9A812CE5EA9575926"><enum>106.</enum><header>Effective date
and rules</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title shall
take effect on the date of enactment of this Act, and the procedures described
in section 103 shall apply to complaints and actions filed under this title
after such date of enactment. The Secretary shall establish interim final rules
to implement this title within 60 days of such date of enactment. The time
periods for processing complaints shall start once such interim rules are in
effect.</text>
</section><enum>II</enum><header>Whistleblower
Protection Office</header>
<section id="HE21BA3D448F9480D8CD0BBC98BEA588"><enum>201.</enum><header>Establishment</header>
<subsection id="H5457DA16F8D846BD8D49843468D4D51E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment
and purpose</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is
established within the Employment Standards Administration of the Department of
Labor the Whistleblower Protection Office, in the title referred to as
<quote>the Office</quote>, to administer the duties of the Secretary under
title I and any duties assigned to the Secretary under the provisions of law
referred to by section 202, other than duties involving hearings and subsequent
review and legal representation which may be assigned to other offices and
agencies within the Department of Labor.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HC056C533CB2E4890899F2CCD085CA172"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Administrator</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Whistleblower Protection Office shall
be under the direction of an Administrator of Whistleblower Protection,
referred to in this title as <quote>the Administrator</quote>, who shall be
appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H77FE3E7E3CFD47DB9C393FABA3D19DE8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Appointment of
Personnel</header>
<paragraph id="H464CA790FAC24AC88219AF69B325C6DE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Appointment and
compensation</header><text>The Administrator may, subject to the civil service
laws, appoint such employees as the Administrator considers necessary to carry
out the functions and duties of the Office, and shall fix their compensation in
accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53
of title 5, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC692C2D388504710A2F82D762CE000DC"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Transfer of
personnel; budget</header>
<paragraph id="H40D57C932C1B4242B4E609D66FE356CE"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Beginning not later than the effective date of this
title, the functions of the Secretary under any of the provisions of law
referred to in section 202 shall be carried out by the Administrator.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDA4742B24F0541F49FAD162278B879DC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Budgets,
personnel, etc</header><text>All unexpended balances of appropriations,
personnel, property, records, obligations, and commitments which are used
primarily with respect to any functions transferred under the provisions of
paragraph (1) to the Administrator shall be transferred to the Office, as
appropriate. The transfer of personnel pursuant to this paragraph shall be
without reduction in classification or compensation for 1 year after such
transfer, except that the Administrator shall have full authority to assign
personnel during such 1-year period in order to efficiently carry out functions
transferred to the Administrator under this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8F39519160B34232A5C1E72E1B8F78E"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Continuation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">All orders, decisions, determinations,
rules, and regulations, (A) which have been issued, made, granted, or allowed
to become effective in the exercise of functions which are transferred under
this subsection; and (B) which are in effect at the time this section takes
effect, shall continue in effect according to their terms until modified,
terminated, superseded, set aside, revoked, or repealed by the Secretary, the
Administrator, or other authorized officials, by any court of competent
jurisdiction, or by operation of law. The provisions of this subsection shall
not affect any proceedings pending at the time this title takes effect. The
provisions of this section shall not affect suits commenced prior to the date
this section takes effect and in all such suits proceedings shall be had,
appeals taken, and judgments rendered, in the same manner and effect as if this
section had not been enacted.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF4DEAD8E11104AE88F451F1F6DD11E83"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Principal
office</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The principal location
of the Office shall be in the District of Columbia, but the Administrator or a
duly authorized representative may exercise any or all of the Administrator’s
powers in any place.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H35D7D4554D17446D9C857C8E9956775C"><enum>202.</enum><header>Other private
sector whistleblower protections</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the following provisions of law shall, after the effective date of this title,
be administered in accordance with this title:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HE85B383A0E8B45C8960095F087F5ACFE"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Sections 20209, 31105, 42121, and 60129 of
title 49, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H17538417541B4F1891B65B7FF858FFF"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Section 211 of the
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/2651">15 U.S.C. 2651</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE20199793AB04620B7BC14BCB0CCD2C"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Section 7 of the
International Safe Container Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc-appendix" parsable-cite="usc-appendix/46/1506">46 App. U.S.C. 1506</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H95D85D2B529643D9B64EAE94CBE3EBB5"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Section 1450 of
the Safety Drinking Water Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/300j-9i">42 U.S.C. 300j–9i</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAB5E8D7AD3D54BE89DC42BB3A99352D0"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Section 507 of the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Amendments of 1972 (33 U.S.C.
1367).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1F21975A3C00439989FABEFBE8A8E1A3"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Section 23(a)(1)
through (3) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/2622">15 U.S.C. 2622</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1944A61DD23247719D99CF3CA633568"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Section 7001 of the
Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/6971">42 U.S.C. 6971</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H97C1A7512D1F466EBACA8F4B4FD1507"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Section 322 of the
Clean Air Act, amendments of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/7622">42 U.S.C. 7622</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0B366173A249437E97977F65C02CBAAF"><enum>(9)</enum><text>Section 10 of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
(<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/9610">42 U.S.C. 9610</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF0E60A4C750746E1B85C05E63CFFC200"><enum>(10)</enum><text>Section 211 of
the Energy Reorganization Act of 1978 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5851">42 U.S.C. 5851</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H6DECDF60EDC343F6B678177E00E54CF0"><enum>(11)</enum><text>Section 806 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/18/1514A">18 U.S.C. 1514A</external-xref>).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HE6101AC94A684883A9DCC7BC994D243B"><enum>(12)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1413 of the Implementing
Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (P.L. 110–53).</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="H17E2113CBF43484FB6B13CF4DA5F3FC2"><enum>203.</enum><header>Duties, Powers
and functions</header>
<subsection id="H50170F7F411E465F8B87E7CCB6EF09B4"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Subpoenas,
evidence, and testimony</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In
carrying out its duties under title I of this Act or under any of the
provisions of law referred to by section 202, the Administrator may issue
subpoenas requiring the deposition of or the attendance and testimony of
witnesses and the production of any evidence, including any books, papers, or
documents, relating to any matter under investigation by the Commission, or
required in connection with a hearing.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3E20A40A5E884D9DB0022161545BEE1C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rules</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary is authorized to prescribe
such rules as are necessary for the orderly transaction of the proceedings of
the Office and for the implementation of the programs of the Office.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H24C7EFF8701F4A96BD5269CE3B3EBC19"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The Administrator shall begin to carry out the duties and
exercise the powers set forth in this title on the date that is 1 year after
the date of enactment of this Act, or such earlier date as the Secretary may
determine that the Office is sufficiently established, staffed, and
funded.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H4E020B4206584E368BEBCA9094403480"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Annual
reports</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator
shall annually transmit a report to Congress detailing the activities of the
Office during the previous year, including information relating to the number
and nature of complaints filed, the number of merit and non-merit cases, the
number of such complaints disposed of without investigation due to specific
procedural issues, investigations conducted, orders issued, and statistics
related to settlements . In addition, the Administrator shall annually make
available the full text of all settlements approved by the Office, following
the elimination of all personal identifying information about the claimant, the
employer, and any other party, and no settlement approved by the Office may
prohibit disclosure in such a manner.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H0C8B6911594C49A99FBAB3684207BE6F"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Study on
intimidation of whistleblowers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 6 months after the effective
date of this title, the Administrator shall request the National Academies to
conduct a study of intimidation faced by those in the private sector who blow
the whistle on violations of law or accepted standards of practice established
by public bodies. The study shall consider the role played by a belief that
whistleblowing will not make any difference, fear of retaliation, cultural
factors, distrust of the government, lack of information or misinformation
about employee rights, deficiencies in such rights or in the practical ability
to seek relief for violation thereof, and such other factors as may be
relevant. The study shall include recommendations for addressing such issues.
The Administrator shall transmit the study, including any further
recommendations of the Administrator, to Congress not later than 90 days after
the receipt of the study.</text>
</subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS </header>
<section commented="no" id="HC89AFB86F02245B9BE232E9FCEF128C3"><enum>301.</enum><header>Occupational
Safety and Health Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/660">29 U.S.C. 660(c)</external-xref>) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H92B45001BDB2450B9FDE43005CD278A9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking the
period at the end of paragraph (1) and inserting the following: <quote>,
including reporting any injury, illness, or unsafe condition to the employer,
agent of the employer, safety and health committee involved, or employee safety
and health representative involved. No person shall discharge or in any manner
discriminate against an employee for refusing to perform the employee’s duties
if the employee has a reasonable apprehension that performing such duties would
result in serious injury to, or serious impairment of the health of, the
employee or other employees. The circumstances causing the employee’s
apprehension of serious injury or serious impairment of health shall be of such
a nature that a reasonable person, under the circumstances confronting the
employee, would conclude that there is a bona fide danger of a serious injury,
or serious impairment of health, resulting from the circumstances. In order to
qualify for protection under this paragraph, the employee, when practicable,
shall have sought from the employee’s employer, and have been unable to obtain,
a correction of the circumstances causing the refusal to perform the employee’s
duties.</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H1986079F94474AB7A336C00D6199E94"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
paragraphs (2) and (3), and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block id="H1A265335167F48568B7E791027F1AD32" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="HCBE4FDDEFF8C4E2098DA7070D100AE21"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any employee who believes that he or she
has been discharged or otherwise discriminated against by any person in
violation of this subsection may file a complaint with the Secretary of Labor,
or bring a civil action at law or equity in Federal court. The Secretary shall
receive, process, investigate, and attempt to resolve and remedy complaints of
violations of paragraph (1) in the same manner that the Secretary receives,
processes, investigates, and attempts to resolve and remedy complaints of
violations of section 102(a) of the Whistleblower Protection Streamlining Act
of 2007. A civil action brought under this subsection shall be governed under
the rules and procedures set forth in section 103 of such
Act.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="H4A918E2857E8469F96AA7C2400C4D9F2"><enum>302.</enum><header>Federal Mine
Safety and Health Act</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
105(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 ( <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/30/815">30 U.S.C. 815(c)</external-xref>) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HF42BAD5369844C8B979BDC57E5B40057"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph
(1)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H0CF60166C4CD44E283D6F8D69CAB6338"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by inserting
<quote>or an injury or illness in a coal or other mine or that may be
associated with mine employment,</quote> after <quote>of an alleged danger or
safety or health violation in a coal or other mine,</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H11623BAFA0CC44BC8311B092298F071F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following: <quote>No miner shall be required to work under conditions
he has reasonable grounds to believe to be abnormally and immediately dangerous
to himself beyond the normal hazards inherent in the operation which could
reasonably be expected to cause death of serious physical harm before such
condition or practice can be abated.</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H9FDE4E8AC01C4B8599B5FD08D00011E2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2),
by inserting after the fifth sentence the following: <quote>No investigation or
hearing authorized by this paragraph may be stayed to await resolution of a
related grievance proceeding.</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H86A80CA373344910AAF7E0A950818CF3"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H8800F53D21E14912878871A332552BD8" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H20BF82262FF94B458EDF55CBD5519F2" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In lieu of initiating an action pursuant to
paragraph (2), or if a complaint under paragraph (2) is not decided within 180
days, any miner or applicant for employment or representative of miners who
believes that he has been discharged, interfered with, or otherwise
discriminated against by any person in violation of this subsection may bring
an action at law or equity in the appropriate district court of the United
States. Such civil action shall be governed under the rules and procedures set
forth in section 103 of the Whistleblower Protection Streamlining Act of
2007.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section>