Sec. 7526. Report on policy on whistleblower protections
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Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report on the policy of the Coast Guard on whistleblower protections. The report required by subsection
(a)shall include the following: A discussion of the policy of the Coast Guard as of the date of enactment of this Act with respect to— whistleblower protections; accountability measures for reprisal against whistleblowers; the applicable professional standards and potential types of support provided to whistleblowers by members of the Coast Guard personnel, such as the members in the Coast Guard Investigative Service; and the content and frequency of training provided to members of the Coast Guard on active duty, members of the Coast Guard Reserve, and civilian personnel of the Coast Guard with respect to the applicable professional standards and potential types of support offered to whistleblowers. A description of the responsibilities of commanders and equivalent civilian supervisors with respect to whistleblower complaints and measures used by the Coast Guard to ensure compliance with such responsibilities, such as— the mechanisms to ensure that— any such commander complies with section 1034 of title 10, United States Code, including subsection (a)(1) of that section; any such equivalent civilian supervisor complies with section 2302 of title 5, United States Code; and any such commander or supervisor protects the constitutional right of whistleblowers to speak with Members of Congress; actions to be taken against any a commander or equivalent civilian supervisor who fails to act on a whistleblower complaint or improperly interferes with a whistleblower after a complaint is filed or during the preparation of a complaint; the role of Coast Guard attorneys in ensuring that such commanders comply with responsibilities under section 1034 of title 10, United States Code; and the role of Coast Guard civilian attorneys and administrative law judges in ensuring that such civilian supervisors comply with responsibilities under section 2302 of title 5, United States Code. A discussion of the availability of Coast Guard staff, including civilian staff, assigned to providing, in accordance with professional standards or practice, behavioral health care to whistleblowers, including— the number and type of such staff; a description of the specific care responsibilities of such staff; an identification of any limitation existing as of the date of enactment of this Act to the provision of such care; a description of any plan to increase capacity of such staff to provide such care, as applicable; and a description of any additional resources necessary to provide such care. An assessment of the manner in which the policies discussed in paragraph (1), the responsibilities of commanders and civilian supervisors described in paragraph (2), and the availability of Coast Guard staff as discussed in paragraph
(3)apply specifically to cadets and leadership at the Coast Guard Academy. Recommendations (including, as appropriate, proposed legislative changes and a plan to publish in the Federal Register not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act a request for information seeking public comment and recommendations) of the Commandant regarding manners in which Coast Guard policies and procedures may be strengthened— to prevent whistleblower discrimination and harassment; to better enforce prohibitions on retaliation, including reprisal, restriction, ostracism, and maltreatment, set forth in section 1034 of title 10, United States Code, and section 2302 of title 5, United States Code; and to hold commanding officers and civilian supervisors accountable for enforcing and complying with prohibitions on any form of retaliation described in such section.