Duty to disclose celebrated on July 30 - National Whistleblower Appreciation Day

Alarms pose a threat

Point at issue is that unlike in 1778, any alarms that I or others may raise in the public interest in 2014 also pose a threat to government authorities who seem to support Toyota's apparent tall tales about SUA and the company's apparent ongoing attempts to conceal the truth. 

Oy, if only Judge Selna would "release government records" that reveal more truth than we now know, and if only Uncle Sam would pay David!

SENATE RESOLUTION 202--DESIGNATING JULY 30, 2013, AS ``NATIONAL
WHISTLEBLOWER APPRECIATION DAY''
Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself and Mr. LEVIN) submitted the following resolution;
which was considered and agreed to.:
S. Res. 202
Whereas, in 1777, before the passage of the Bill of Rights, 10 sailors and marines blew
the whistle on fraud and misconduct harmful to the United States;
Whereas the Founding Fathers unanimously supported the whistleblowers in words and 
deeds, including releasing government records and providing monetary assistance for 
reasonable legal expenses necessary to prevent retaliation;
Whereas, on July 30, 1778, in demonstration of their full support for whistleblowers,
the members of the Continental Congress unanimously enacted the first whistleblower
legislation in the United States that read: ``Resolved, That it is the duty of all persons in 
the service of the United States, as well as all other the inhabitants thereof, to give the 
earliest information to Congress or other proper authority of any misconduct, frauds or 
misdemeanors committed by any officers or persons in the service of these states, which 
may come to their knowledge'' (legislation of July 30, 1778, reprinted in Journals of the
Continental Congress, 1774-1789, ed. Government Printing Office (Washington, DC,
1908), 11:732);
Whereas whistleblowers risk their careers, jobs, and reputations by reporting waste,
fraud, and abuse to the proper authorities;
Whereas, when providing proper authorities with lawful disclosures, whistleblowers
save taxpayers in the United States billions of dollars each year and serve the public
interest by ensuring that the United States remains an ethical and safe place; and
Whereas it is the public policy of the United States to encourage, in accordance with
Federal law (including the Constitution, rules, and regulations) and consistent with the
protection of classified information (including sources and methods of detection), honest 
and good faith reporting of misconduct, fraud, misdemeanors, and other crimes to the 
appropriate authority at the earliest time possible: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates July 30, 2013, as ``National Whistleblower Appreciation Day''; and
(2) ensures that the Federal Government implements the intent of the Founding
Fathers, as reflected in the legislation enacted on July 30, 1778, by encouraging each
executive agency to recognize National Whistleblower Appreciation Day by--(A) informing employees, contractors working on behalf of United States taxpayers,
and members of the public about the legal rights of citizens of the United States to blow
the whistle; and
(B) acknowledging the contributions of whistleblowers to combating waste, fraud, 
abuse, and violations of laws and regulations in the United States.