WASHINGTON –Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and a member of the Whistleblower Protection Caucus, released the following statement in recognition of National Whistleblower Protection Day:
“Whistleblowers can help Congress improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the federal government by shining a light on wrongdoing or misbehavior and helping to root out waste, fraud and abuse,” said Sen. Carper. “These brave individuals help uphold the integrity of the missions they serve and can spark positive change. I have been a long-time supporter of whistleblowers, and am proud to be a member of the Senate Whistleblower Caucus. While Congress made important progress safeguarding whistleblowers by passing the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012, far too many whistleblowers still face retaliation. We need people who are willing to stand up and say something when they see something that is wrong – and to encourage people to stand up, we need to ensure that they will not be punished for doing so. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in the Senate, and especially the other members of the Whistleblower Caucus, on this critical issue. And to all those brave whistleblowers who stood up for what is right, we say ‘thank you.’”
The Whistleblower Protection Caucus, founded earlier this year, focuses its mission on raising awareness of the value and need to protect individuals who call attention to fraud, waste and misconduct. It aims to foster bipartisan discussion on legislative issues affecting the treatment of whistleblowers and serve as a clearinghouse for current information on whistleblower developments of interest in the Senate.