Congress is busy dealing with the current financial crisis, but it is not so busy that Congress can neglect other pressing priorities like passing a strong federal whistleblower protection bill (especially since comprehensive whistleblower protections are essential to avoid the kind of corruption that has gotten America into this crisis).

The House and the Senate passed bills to protect federal employees who blow the whistle on waste, fraud and abuse by veto proof margins last year (H.R. 985, S. 274), but have yet to agree on a final bill.

We need you to make calls and demand that Congress find time in its final days to protect government employees who protect the taxpayers, whether this is done as stand-alone legislation or included in the "bailout bill."

In addition to writing to your representative, call the following members and ask that federal whistleblower protections be included in the "bailout bill."

Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd: 202.224.7391

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: 202.224.5556

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi: 202.225.0100

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank: 202.225.4247

Tell me more:

Talking Points
Please use the following language as the basis for drafting your own letter in the text-box below:

I am writing to ask you to find time in the final days of the 110th Congress to protect government employees who protect the taxpayers, whether this is done as stand-alone legislation or included in the "bailout bill."

Comprehensive whistleblower protections are essential to avoid the kind of corruption that has gotten America into this crisis. Both the House and the Senate have passed substantial and valuable reforms in their respective legislation by veto proof margins; unless the bill is debated and passed early enough to over-ride President Bush's probable veto, Congress will have to start all over next year.

It is especially imperative that we improve whistleblower protections for government employees, because their work and integrity reflects our values: by protecting them, we protect ourselves.

I understand that House and Senate negotiators are close to a final agreement. I think the final bill should include provisions from the House-passed bill that: [please choose from the following talking points, or add your own]:

- Specifically protect federal scientists who report efforts to alter, misrepresent, or suppress federal research;

- Extend meaningful protections to FBI and intelligence agency whistleblowers; and

- Extend meaningful protections to Transportation Security Officers (screeners).

- Provide whistleblowers with due process, including jury trials when they face retribution from co-workers or employers.

I urge you to work across party lines in order to finalize and pass the strongest bill possible to protect whistleblowers who expose government waste, fraud, and abuse.

Follow url below to take action-
http://ga6.org/campaign/wb_in_bailout/i8bs7w5r075d6d8d?

From Openthegovernment.org