On behalf of the NWC, today is our last of seven days of action to start the new year, and today’s action is big. As many of you know, each year, the National Whistleblower Center holds a celebration for National Whistleblower Day. However, even though Congress recognizes the day each year, neither Congress nor the White House have taken action to permanently recognize July 30 as National Whistleblower Day.
On July 30th, 1778, the Founding Fathers instituted the first U.S. whistleblower law to protect the government against fraud. This is an important part of American history, and one that should be celebrated. I have long supported whistleblowers, and a Marist Poll conducted by Whistleblower Network News also established that the majority of voters in the United States support whistleblowers and increased whistleblower protections. This bipartisan support for whistleblowers would surely extend to bipartisan support for National Whistleblower Day as a Federal Day of Observance.
Please join with me in urging President Biden to take executive action on behalf of whistleblowers. In doing so, President Biden would be taking a tremendous step forward in the federal government’s recognition of the importance of whistleblowers.
Specifically, I am calling for a requirement that federal agencies educate their employees about their right to blow the whistle, and that they celebrate the contributions whistleblowers have made to their agency and our democracy every year on July 30th.
Please urge President Biden to sign an Executive Order setting forth the following:
(1) July 30th is designated as “National Whistleblower Appreciation Day”; and
(2) The Federal Government shall implement the intent of the Founding Fathers, as reflected in the legislation passed on July 30, 1778 (relating to whistleblowers), by requiring each executive agency to recognize National Whistleblower Appreciation Day by—
(A) informing employees, contractors working on behalf of the taxpayers of the United States, and members of the public about the legal right of a United States citizen to “blow the whistle” to the appropriate authority by honest and good faith reporting of misconduct, fraud, misdemeanors, or other crimes; and
(B) acknowledging the contributions of whistleblowers to combating waste, fraud, abuse, and violations of laws and regulations of the United States.
We must recognize the courageous contributions that whistleblowers have made to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse. Whistleblowers are credited with bringing in billions of dollars per year to U.S. government coffers. The culture around whistleblowers, however, remains that of being ostracized and retaliated against.
Now more than ever, we need a permanent day of recognition for whistleblowers to show our nation’s commitment to truth, anti-corruption, and effective law enforcement. Help us make each July 30th National Whistleblower Day, so we can change the culture and truly honor the contributions of whistleblowers while fostering their courage to speak up about wrongdoing.
Please send this prewritten email template to your officials asking that they recognize National Whistleblower Day. This day is about much more than an event or a holiday. It’s about changing the culture around whistleblowing in federal agencies. Check out more info here.
Recognized by the National Whistleblower Center (NWC), Tracie Burke is Louisiana author of motiontoquash.org She can be reached at tracie@motiontoquash.org. Motion to Quash LLC successfully promoted legislation that supports the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 and amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act. Please Support journalism in the public interest by contributing today. Click here to donate Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to https://motiontoquash.orgQuash LLC 2019. NWC’s mission is to support whistleblowers in their efforts to expose and help prosecute corruption and other wrongdoing around the world.
