Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) joined a bipartisan group of legislators in introducing the Military Whistleblower Protection Act on Thursday, which would extend whistleblower protection to military victims of crime and misconduct.
The measure would also extend the period to file a report from 60 days to one year, which is more consistent with allowable reporting periods for other federal whistleblowers.
“Whistleblowers play a crucial role in congressional efforts to prevent waste, fraud and abuse and to help ensure the effectiveness of government programs,” Collins said. “They provide crucial information that Congress needs to conduct proper oversight of the federal government. This amendment increases whistleblower protections for the military and encourages whistleblowers to report misconduct, especially as it relates to sexual assault. Our military men and women deserve a justice system that protects them while they serve our country.”
The Military Whistleblower Protection Act would require that service branches submit requests to the Board for Military Correction of Records to correct the files of whistleblowers who have faced retaliation.
In 2012, more than 60 percent of service members who reported a sexual assault faced retaliation, and less than 1 percent of reprisal complaints received relief, according to an audit by the Government Accountability Office.
Collins introduced the legislation with Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).