Dear Whistleblower Supporter:
We would like to invite you to four free events – right here in Washington, DC – in honor of next week’s National Whistleblower Appreciation Day. On this wonderful day of remembrance, we commemorate the contributions of whistleblowers who have combated waste, fraud, abuse and corruption. GAP is producing four prominent panels (on Capitol Hill) all featuring notable experts and all-stars from the whistleblower community. The events occurring will be part of a larger whistleblower summit, “Whistleblower Summit: Civil and Human Rights Conference” organized by our coalition partners.
Last year, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) spearheaded a Senate-passed resolution that established National Whistleblower Appreciation Day. To this end, three GAP panels will analyze the current state of protections available to financial whistleblowers under Dodd-Frank, federal employees under the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA), and national security workers under various statutes. The other panel will look at how federal whistleblowers are, chillingly, now being targeted for criminal investigation after blowing the whistle.
The Dodd-Frank panel comes just days after GAP’s filing of a rulemaking petition to the SEC demanding that the agency strengthen whistleblower protections for financial sector whistleblowers (after new legal tactics to silence whistleblowers by large corporations have emerged).
GAP panels include (more info here):
Tuesday, July 29
Emerging Threats and Protections for National Security Whistleblowers: This panel examines how national security employees only enjoy limited protections when they disclose government misconduct. From Edward Snowden’s disclosures of sweeping government surveillance, to a recent court ruling that threatens the civil service rule of law, this panel will explore the vital role of whistleblowers within an ever-expanding national security state. Guests include representatives from the Bill of Rights Defense Committee (Executive Director Shahid Buttar), National Treasury Employees Union (Cathy Ball), and Public Citizen (Keith Wrightson). Moderated by GAP Legal Director Tom Devine. 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, 485 Russell Senate Office Building.
Wednesday, July 30
25 Years of the Whistleblower Protection Act & the Next Frontier: This panel features noted experts who will explore the strengths and limitations of the WPA, recent reforms contained within the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012, and congressional efforts to address unresolved issues. The panel features representatives from Congress (Krista Boyd, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Counsel), the American Federation of Government Employees (Charity Wilson), and the FEW Legal Education Fund (Michael McCray). Moderated by Devine. 9:30 am – 10:30 am, 441 Cannon House Office Building.
From Firings to Criminal Referrals – The Changing Face of Whistleblower Retaliation: This panel will focus on the recent surge in whistleblower protections against workplace retaliation affecting federal and corporate workers alike. The panel will explore the gap in current whistleblower protection legislation against criminal retaliation and legislative proposals to address emerging reprisal tactics. Guests include representatives from GAP’s Food Integrity Campaign (Amanda Hitt), Congress (Tristan Leavitt, Investigative Counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee), National Taxpayers Union (Executive Vice President Pete Sepp) and an environmental whistleblower (Larry Criscione). Moderated by GAP’s Devine. 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, 441 Cannon House Office Building.
Strengthening Anti-Reprisal Rights under the SEC Whistleblower Program: This panel will examine how the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act’s anti-reprisal rights need an upgrade to combat the rise of retaliation in the SEC Whistleblower Program. It will explore appropriate rulemaking for the SEC to clarify and strengthen protections available to those who report misconduct. The panel is moderated by noted attorney Jason Zuckerman and features prominent lawyer Jordan Thomas, financial whistleblower Eric Ben-Artzi, and Lisa Donner, Executive Director of Americans for Financial Reform. 3:15 pm – 4:30 pm, Stewart R. Mott Foundation, 122 Maryland Ave NE Washington DC 20002.
Additionally on Wednesday, from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm, join us for a reception at the Stewart R. Mott Foundation as we celebrate our nation’s unsung heroes!
Please RSVP here.
As another year of supporting whistleblowers approaches, GAP hopes to see you at these free events supporting whistleblowers and their rights to tell the truth. Your continued advocacy of whistleblowers remains critical to maintaining a functional democracy.
Updated event information can be found here.
Dylan Blaylock is Communications Director for the Government Accountability Project, the nation’s leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization.