[Dialogue] Senate Whistleblower Bill Leaves Out Protection for Scientists

[Harry Wainwright]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 13, 2007
11:59 AM

CONTACT: Union of Concerned Scientists 
Meghan Crosby Assistant Press Secretary 
202-331-6943 
mcrosby at ucsusa.org

Senate Whistleblower Bill Leaves Out Protection for Scientists
Statement by Francesca Grifo, director of the Scientific Integrity Program

WASHINGTON - JUNE 13 - The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs today approved the Federal Employee Protection of
Disclosures Act. While the legislation would strengthen protections for
federal whistleblowers who expose waste, fraud and abuse of power, it fails
to address scientists who expose the manipulation, distortion, or
suppression of their work, according the Union of Concerned Scientists. 

A bipartisan House bill, approved overwhelmingly in March, includes strong
protections for federal scientists and contractors, giving them the right to
expose political interference in their research without fear of reprisals.
The bill passed by a 331 to 94 vote, with 229 Democrats and 102 Republicans
voting in favor. The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
approved the Senate legislation (the Federal Employee Protection of
Disclosures Act).

Political interference in science has become a pervasive problem in the
federal government. Recent surveys have documented that hundreds of
scientists across nine federal agencies fear reprisals when they openly
discuss concerns about their agency's work. 

The following is a statement by Francesca Grifo, director of the Scientific
Integrity Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists: 

"While the Senate bill is a good first step to extending meaningful
protections to federal employees who sound the alarm on government waste,
fraud and abuse, it does not yet contain language that would ensure that
federal scientists are free to do their work without fear of political
interference. We have heard from hundreds of federal scientists who fear
retaliation for raising concerns about their agency's mission-driven work. 

"The Senate must incorporate equally strong protections for federal
scientists in any whistleblower legislation. The Senate should recognize, as
the House does, that scientists must be able to work to protect the health
and safety of Americans without fear of retribution."

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