PRINTER'S NO. 988
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
139
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY L. WILLIAMS, MUTH, KEARNEY, CAPPELLETTI, HAYWOOD,
BREWSTER, KANE AND COSTA, JUNE 29, 2023
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, JUNE 29, 2023
A RESOLUTION
Designating July 30, 2023, as "Whistleblower Appreciation Day"
in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, In 1777, before the passage of the Bill of Rights,
10 sailors and marines "blew the whistle" on fraud and
misconduct that was harmful to the United States; and
WHEREAS, The Founding Fathers of our nation unanimously
supported the whistleblowers in words and deeds, including by
releasing government records and providing monetary assistance
for the reasonable legal expenses necessary to prevent
retaliation against the whistleblowers; and
WHEREAS, On July 30, 1778, in demonstration of their full
support for whistleblowers, the members of the Continental
Congress unanimously passed the first whistleblower legislation
in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 100 years later in 1863, the Federal False
Claims Act was enacted after Civil War soldiers were threatened
into silence for their attempt to report rotten food, sickly
mules and defective weapons; and
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WHEREAS, Modern day whistleblowers face the same problems as
their Civil War counterparts, risking their jobs, pensions and
health care to protect us and our tax dollars; and
WHEREAS, With nearly half of all fraud discovered by tips,
whistleblowers provide critical information that leads to the
recovery of millions of dollars of taxpayer money every year and
serve the public interest by ensuring accountability and
transparency in government; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth should support the brave
individuals who choose to speak out and strengthen laws that
allow them to raise issues without fear of retaliation;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate July 30, 2023, as
"Whistleblower Appreciation Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the contributions of
whistleblowers, whose courage reminds us that government should
be transparent and accountable to the people; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage the Commonwealth to
strengthen its laws so that workers, contractors and the public
are protected to "blow the whistle" on fraud, consistent with
the intent of the Founding Fathers of our nation.
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