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S 508 100th Congress Senate Government Operations and Politics Administrative procedure Administrative remedies Authorization Civil service employment Corporations and Stocks Courts and Civil Procedure Disciplining of employees Economics and Public Finance Executive reorganization Federal employees Federal employees and officials Government corporations Judicial review Judicial review of administrative acts Lawyers and legal services Legal services Merit Systems Protection Board Parties to actions Tennessee Valley Authority

Whistleblower Protection Act of 1987

Introduced: February 5, 1987 See on congress.gov
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This bill was vetoed and did not become law
It was vetoed by the President and has not become law. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 24 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 26, 1988
Pocket Vetoed by President.
Oct 14, 1988
Presented to President.
Oct 13, 1988
Measure Signed in Senate.
Oct 12, 1988
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Oct 7, 1988
Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
Oct 7, 1988
Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendment by Voice Vote.
Oct 4, 1988
Message on House action received in Senate and held at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
Oct 4, 1988
Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 418 - 0 (Record Vote No: 397).
Oct 4, 1988
Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House (Amended) by Yea-Nay Vote: 418 - 0 (Record Vote No: 397).
Oct 3, 1988
Considered by House Unfinished Business.
Oct 3, 1988
Called up by House Under Suspension of Rules.
Aug 8, 1988
Referred to House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service.
Aug 8, 1988
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Aug 2, 1988
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Aug 2, 1988
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Aug 2, 1988
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
Jul 6, 1988
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 782.
Jul 6, 1988
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Glenn with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 100-413.
May 19, 1988
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Jul 31, 1987
Subcommittee on Federal Services, Post Office. Hearings held.
Jul 20, 1987
Subcommittee on Federal Services, Post Office. Hearings held.
Mar 5, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Federal Services, Post Office.
Feb 5, 1987
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
Feb 5, 1987
Introduced in Senate
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 2,786 — To strike section 4, dealing with judicial review. Agreed to Aug 2, 1988
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Whistleblower Protection Act of 1987 - Separates the Office of Special Counsel from the Merit Systems Protection Board. Empowers the Special Counsel to represent and act as legal counsel on behalf of employees alleging prohibited personnel practices, especially whistleblowers. Revises current law with respect to the Special Counsel to reflect its advocate status.

Authorizes the Special Counsel to file a petition to the Board against an official for: (1) engaging in prohibited personnel practices; (2) violating a law within the jurisdiction of the Special Counsel; or (3) failing to comply with an order of the Board. Sets forth disciplinary actions for such officials.

Requires the Special Counsel to report annually to the Congress on its activities.

Authorizes employees who have been adversely affected by a prohibited personnel practice to bring an action before the Board (instead of or in addition to taking such action to the Special Counsel). Authorizes such employees to obtain judicial review of the Board's decision in the appropriate court of appeals.

Prohibits reprisals against an employee for disclosing information to the Inspector General of an agency or to the Special Counsel, or for failing to follow orders to disobey a law.

Subjects the Tennessee Valley Authority to prohibited personnel practices provisions.

Authorizes appropriations for the Merit Systems Protection Board for FY 1988 through 1992 and for the Office of Special Counsel for FY 1988 through 1990.

What's happening now October 26, 1988

Pocket Vetoed by President.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Grassley, Chuck
Iowa · Feb 5, 1987
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 508: Whistleblower Protection Act of 1988. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-S-508/
MLA
"S. 508: Whistleblower Protection Act of 1988." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-S-508/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 508, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-S-508/.
Markdown link
[S. 508: Whistleblower Protection Act of 1988](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-S-508/)
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