Committee Considers Enhancing Whistleblower Protections
Committee Considers Enhancing Whistleblower Protections
A committee hearing was held recently in conjunction with debate over a new bill that would solidify and even expand whistleblower protections for employees of government contractors.
January 27, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Recently, a bipartisan subcommittee of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee heard compelling testimony from an employee of a government contractor who was removed from a government project for voicing concerns over safety. The hearing was held in conjunction with debate over a new bill that would solidify and even expand whistleblower protections for employees of government contractors.
Whistleblower Testifies About Violations, Retaliation
The employee answered questions regarding his work on the Hanford Nuclear site in Richland, Washington, where he led an oversight project for the safe and permanent storage of radioactive waste. While committed to the project, he made clear his concerns regarding a number of cost overruns and violations of law and professional standards committed by the Bechtel Corporation in the construction of a plant to stabilize and safely dispose of hazardous nuclear waste.
As a result of speaking out, he contends that he was removed from his position with the project and relegated to a basement copy room as a warning to other would-be whistleblowers. The employee has since filed a whistleblower lawsuit under the False Claims Act against his employer and the Department of Energy, which is the agency overseeing the project.
Members of the senate committee asked pointed questions of the employee to emphasize the dilemma faced by those who question the practices of an employer. One member of the committee commented that approximately a half a trillion dollars is paid to contractors performing work for the government, and whistleblowers are vital to ensure that work is being performed competently and correctly. READ MORE...
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| Posted by Article provided by The Whistleblower Law Firm on Jan 27, 2012 | ||
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