Rep. Lofgren Votes to Restore Government Accountability

March 14, 2007

Bills Would Protect Whistleblowers and Enhance Oversight

Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) voted today on several bills that restore accountability, oversight, and transparency to the way the federal government operates. The House considered H.R. 985, the Whistleblower Protection Act as well as H.R. 1309, the Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007; H.R. 1255, the Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007; and, H.R. 1254, the Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2007. These measures will help ensure that the American people have access to the information they need to restore their trust in government.

ˆ H.R. 985, The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007: Strengthens protections for federal whistleblowers to prevent retaliation against those who report federal waste, fraud, and abuse to authorities. Specifically, the measure gives whistleblower protection to federal workers specializing in national security issues, and improves protection for employees of federal contractors who report on waste fraud and abuses of taxpayers dollars. It also protects employees who report on the federal government manipulating science.

ˆ H.R. 1255, The Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007: Restores public access to former president’s official papers, nullifying a 2001 presidential executive order that gave current and former Presidents (and their heirs) and as well as former vice presidents broad authority to withhold presidential documents or delay their release indefinitely.

ˆ H.R. 1309, The Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007: Provides for more timely disclosure of government documents through a variety of reforms to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

ˆ H.R. 1254, The Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2007: Requires the disclosure of donors who contribute more than $200 to presidential libraries during a president’s term and for the four years after the President’s term ends.

“This Congress has once again demonstrated its commitment to cleaning up the culture of corruption that festered in Republican controlled Washington,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren. “In the short time that Democrats have controlled the House, we have passed legislation to contain earmarks, ensure fiscal responsibility, protect whistleblowers, reform cumbersome FOIA procedures, increase public access to Presidential records, and reduce waste in government contracting. The American people have spoken, and we heard them loud and clear that they want clean, effective, and transparent government. I support all these measure because they are the will of the American people.”