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IN HONOR OF NATIONAL WHISTLEBLOWER APPRECIATION DAY
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HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON
of the district of columbia
in the house of representatives
Friday, July 30, 2021
Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to salute whistleblowers and to mark a day of appreciation for their critical contribution to American justice and to the safety and security of us all. Whistleblowers, among other things, keep companies that do business with the federal government honest and accountable. Working from confidential tips and insights provided by whistleblowers in qui tam cases, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recovers billions of dollars annually under the False Claims Act. Over a recent four-year period, the government recovered $11.4 billion in fraud prosecutions and distributed more than $1.54 billion in whistleblower reward payments.
For example, last year, a major toxicology laboratory was required to pay the government $12 million in a False Claims Act qui tam case when it was found to have paid unlawful kickbacks to a marketer and health care provider in exchange for referrals for urine drug tests. The whistleblower-inspired investigation also led to a criminal indictment of individuals involved in the scheme and the establishment of a five-
year Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Department of Health and Human Service's Office of Inspector General, which required the company to retain an Independent Review Organization to monitor its arrangements with individuals and other entities and to routinely report to the Office of Inspector General.
Those who blow the whistle on federal contractors are typically awarded 15 to 30 percent of the funds recovered by DOJ. One whistle blower collected $4 million in a False Claims Act qui ram case on behalf of the government against two contractors that knowingly failed to comply with federal and state prevailing wage laws. The contractors agreed to correct their compensation practices, and their employees were paid back wages.
In these cases, whistleblowers brought the fraud to light, companies were held accountable, taxpayer funds were recovered, future misconduct was averted, and workers were made whole.
I want to thank my constituent Renee Brooker, partner at Tycko & Zavareei LLP and former Civil Frauds Assistant Director at DOJ for sharing her expertise on whistleblower law with my office.
Today, on National Whistleblower Appreciation Day, I ask my colleagues to recognize whistleblowers and to encourage more individuals to become whistleblowers.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 134
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