Senate Recognizes the Importance of Whistleblowers
The Senate unanimously passed a resolution establishing July 30 as “National Whistleblower Appreciation Day.” The Senate resolution was based on the actions of the Founding Fathers who passed the first whistleblower protection law in on July 30, 1778. The Founding Fathers unanimously supported the whistleblowers in words and deeds, including releasing government records and providing monetary assistance for reasonable legal expenses necessary to prevent retaliation.. The whistleblower protection law passedby our Founding Fathers on July 30, 1778 stated:
“That it is the duty of all persons in the service of the United States, as well as all other the inhabitants thereof, to give the earliest information to Congress or other proper authority of ay misconduct, frauds or misdemeanors committed by any officers or persons in the service of these states, which may come to their knowledge.”
The history behind the Founding Fathers’ support of whistleblowers was buried in the records of the Continental Congress for over 200 years, and was only rediscovered as part of the research behind the book, The Whistleblower’s Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Doing What’s Right and Protecting Yourself (3rd Ed. 2013, Lyons Press), which was authored by KKC partner Stephen Kohn.
Links:
Senate Resolution
July 30, 1778 Resolution of the Continental Congress
Whistleblower’s Handbook Chapter describing history behind the 1778 law
