Anti-retaliation protection for whistleblowers

No employer may discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass, or in any other manner discriminate against a covered individual in the terms and conditions of employment of the covered individual because of any lawful act done by the covered individual— to provide or cause to be provided to the Federal Government or a person with supervisory authority over the covered individual (or such other person working for the employer who has the authority to investigate, discover, or terminate misconduct) information relating to— to cause to be filed, testify in, participate in, or otherwise assist a Federal Government investigation or a Federal Government proceeding filed or about to be filed (with any knowledge of the employer) relating to— Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any covered individual if— In this section: The term “antitrust laws” means section 1 or 3 of this title. The term “covered individual” means an employee, contractor, subcontractor, or agent of an employer. The term “employer” means a person, or any officer, employee, contractor, subcontractor, or agent of such person. The term “Federal Government” means— The term “person” has the same meaning as in subsection (a) of section 12 of this title. The term “violation”, with respect to the antitrust laws, shall not be construed to include a civil violation of any law that is not also a criminal violation. A covered individual who alleges discharge or other discrimination by any employer in violation of subsection (a) may seek relief under subsection (c) by— A complaint filed with the Secretary of Labor under paragraph (1)(A) shall be governed under the rules and procedures set forth in section 42121(b) of title 49. Notification made under section 42121(b)(1) of title 49 shall be made to any individual named in the complaint and to the employer. An action brought under paragraph (1)(B) shall be governed by the legal burdens of proof set forth in section 42121(b) of title 49. A complaint under paragraph (1)(A) shall be filed with the Secretary of Labor not later than 180 days after the date on which the violation occurs. If a person fails to comply with an order or preliminary order issued by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to the procedures set forth in section 42121(b) of title 49, the Secretary of Labor or the person on whose behalf the order was issued may bring a civil action to enforce the order in the district court of the United States for the judicial district in which the violation occurred. A covered individual prevailing in any action under subsection (b)(1) shall be entitled to all relief necessary to make the covered individual whole. Relief for any action under paragraph (1) shall include— Nothing in this section shall be deemed to diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of any covered individual under any Federal or State law, or under any collective bargaining agreement.