Support for Whistleblowers

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to strengthen protections for whistleblowers, especially those that work for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and in other areas of national security. The bill would "create specific protections for those who expose abuses of authority by those trying to manipulate or censor scientific research in federal agencies for political purposes." The Bush administration was accused of censoring or burying information to suit its political goals. The bill is part of the economic stimulus package, and lawmakers see it as a way to ensure that there will be many eyes watching how the billions of dollars are managed and spent. One of the bill's sponsors, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, said that "we need to make sure these funds are effectively spent and that they are not lost due to any waste, fraud or abuse."