WASHINGTON, DC — This week, Rep. Pete Aguilar voted to pass two critical bills which will prevent corruption and strengthen our democracy, the Whistleblower Protection and Improvement Act (H.R. 2988) and The Preventing a Patronage System Act (H.R. 302).

“Americans deserve a strong democracy and a government that works for them,” said Rep. Aguilar. “These bills make it easier to root out government corruption and strengthen protections for people who call out wrongdoing.”

The Whistleblower Protection Act strengthens protections for federal employees who expose wrongdoing, prohibits agencies from launching retaliatory investigations against employees and limits public disclosure of the identity of an employee who engages in whistleblowing activity. This legislation also ensures due process for whistleblowers by not only providing consideration and appeals for employees who request a delay in disadvantageous personnel actions, but also granting whistleblowers access to a jury trial.

The Preventing a Patronage System Act is a bipartisan bill that ensures that career federal employees are hired based on merit and expertise, not political connections or presidential transitions to protect the integrity of our nation’s civil service system. Specifically, this bill requires any attempt to create a “Schedule F” – sign an Executive Order that makes federal employees at the will of an Administration – have congressional consultation and authority to do so.

Rep. Aguilar serves as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and as a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on House Administration and the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the US Capitol.

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