Bill targets discrimination and retaliation at federal agencies

A bill reintroduced Wednesday aims to shield federal workers from discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. Allegations of discrimination at the Environmental Protection Agency prompted the "Notification and Federal Employee Anti-Discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2001" (No FEAR), sponsored by Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., R-Wis. Sensenbrenner first introduced the bill in October 2000. In September, EPA employees held a press conference in Washington alleging widespread discrimination at the agency. In August, Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, a black senior manager at EPA, won a $600,000 verdict in a race and sex discrimination suit against the agency. "Many members and I were deeply disturbed by the allegations that the EPA practices intolerance and discrimination against its scientists and employees. Federal employees with diverse backgrounds and ideas should have no fear of being harassed because of their ideas or the color of their skin," said Sensenbrenner, who is chairman of the House Science Committee. The bill would require agencies that lose or settle discrimination and whistleblower cases to pay judgments out of their budgets. Currently, such payments are made out of a general federal judgment fund. Under the proposed law, agencies must also make employees aware of discrimination and whistleblower protection laws. The legislation would require each agency to file an annual report detailing the number of discrimination or whistleblower cases filed with it, how the cases were resolved, the amount of settlements made and the number of agency employees disciplined for discrimination or harassment. "Legislative enactment of No FEAR ensures agencies will be held accountable for discrimination or retaliatory actions," Sensenbrenner said.