Bill Sponsor
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Bill Sponsor
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Bills
Senate Bill 585
115th Congress(2017-2018)
Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017
Active
Active
Passed House on Oct 12, 2017
Overview
Text
Introduced
Mar 8, 2017
Latest Action
Oct 26, 2017
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
585
Congress
115
Policy Area
Government Operations and Politics
Government Operations and Politics
Primary focus of measure is government administration, including agency organization, contracting, facilities and property, information management and services; rulemaking and administrative law; elections and political activities; government employees and officials; Presidents; ethics and public participation; postal service. Measures concerning agency appropriations and the budget process may fall under Economics and Public Finance policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Ron Johnson
Wisconsin
Republican
Joni Ernst
Iowa
Senate Votes (1)
House Votes (2)
checkPassed on May 25, 2017
Status
Passed
Type
Unanimous Consent
Unanimous Consent
A senator may request unanimous consent on the floor to set aside a specified rule of procedure so as to expedite proceedings. If no Senator objects, the Senate permits the action, but if any one senator objects, the request is rejected. Unanimous consent requests with only immediate effects are routinely granted, but ones affecting the floor schedule, the conditions of considering a bill or other business, or the rights of other senators, are normally not offered, or a floor leader will object to it, until all senators concerned have had an opportunity to inform the leaders that they find it acceptable.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S3190; text as passed Senate: CR S3192-3194)
Summary

Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017

This bill directs federal agencies (excluding any entity that is an element of the intelligence community) to give priority to an employee transfer request if the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) grants a stay of a personnel action at the request of: (1) the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) if the OSC determines the personnel action was taken, or is to be taken, as a result of a prohibited personnel practice; or (2) the employee if such employee is in probationary status and seeks corrective action.

The bill: (1) prohibits any employee who has the authority to take a personnel action to access the medical records of another employee or applicant for employment, (2) authorizes disciplinary action against supervisors for retaliation against whistleblowers.

Agencies must: (1) refer information about employee suicides to the OSC, (2) train supervisors on responding to complaints alleging whistleblower protections violations, (3) provide information regarding whistleblower protections to new employees during probationary periods, (4) inform employees of the role of the OSC and the MSPB with regard to whistleblower protection, and (5) make information about such protections available on agency websites.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) must: (1) submit a plan to prevent unauthorized access to the medical records of VA employees; (2) conduct an outreach program to inform its employees of available mental health services, including telemedicine options; and (3) ensure protocols are in effect to address threats against VA employees providing health care.

The Government Accountability Office shall assess the reporting, staffing, accountability, and chain of command structure of VA police officers at VA medical centers.

Text (5)
Enrolled Bill
Referred in House
May 26, 2017
Engrossed in Senate
May 25, 2017
Reported to Senate
May 4, 2017
Introduced in Senate
March 8, 2017
Related Bills (2)
Oct 11, 2017
Passed House
1
Sponsorship
House Simple Resolution 562
Providing for consideration of the bill (S. 585) to provide greater whistleblower protections for Federal employees, increased awareness of Federal whistleblower protections, and increased accountability and required discipline for Federal supervisors who retaliate against whistleblowers, and for other purposes; providing for proceedings during the period from October 16, 2017, through October 20, 2017; and providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules.
Active
Type
Procedurally-Related Measure
Procedurally-Related Measure
Legislation that affects consideration of other legislation (e.g., a rule for consideration, a bill ordered to be reported or passed in lieu of another measure). Identical bills, companion measures, and legislation with text similarities are other related bill types.
Identified By
House
Jun 23, 2017
Introduced in House
12
Sponsorship
House Bill 3042
Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017
Introduced
Type
Related Bill
Related Bill
A related bill may be a companion measure, an identical bill, a procedurally-related measure, or one with text similarities. Bill relationships are identified by the House, the Senate, or CRS, and refer only to same-Congress measures.
Identified By
CRS
10/26/2017
Signed by President.
10/24/2017
Presented to President.
10/12/2017
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
10/12/2017
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 420 - 0 (Roll no. 568). (text: CR H7989)
10/12/2017
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 420 - 0 (Roll no. 568).(text: CR H7989)
10/12/2017
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 190 - 232 (Roll no. 567).
10/12/2017
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8010-8012)
10/12/2017
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the O'Halleran motion to recommit, the Chair put the question on the motion, and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. O'Halleran demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the motion to recommit until a time to be announced.
10/12/2017
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
10/12/2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the O'Halleran motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House forthwith with an amendment to add a new section at the end of title I related to Disclosure of Violations Relating to Air Transportation.
10/12/2017
Mr. O'Halleran moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. (text: CR H8003)
10/12/2017
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
10/12/2017
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on S. 585.
10/12/2017
Rule provides for consideration of S. 585 with 1 hour of general debate. Bill is closed to amendments. The resolution provides for proceedings during the period from October 16, 2017, through October 20, 2017; and provides for consideration of motions to suspend the rules.
10/12/2017
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 562. (consideration: CR H7998-8004)
10/11/2017
Rule H. Res. 562 passed House.
10/10/2017
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 562 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of S. 585 with 1 hour of general debate. Bill is closed to amendments. The resolution provides for proceedings during the period from October 16, 2017, through October 20, 2017; and provides for consideration of motions to suspend the rules.
05/26/2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
05/26/2017
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Discharged.
05/26/2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
05/26/2017
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
05/26/2017
Received in the House.
05/25/2017
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
05/25/2017
Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3190; text as passed Senate: CR S3192-3194)
05/25/2017
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S3190; text as passed Senate: CR S3192-3194)
05/04/2017
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 57.
05/04/2017
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with amendments. With written report No. 115-44.
03/15/2017
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
03/08/2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
03/08/2017
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Sep 5, 2023 4:11:55 PM
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