WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has been a lead advocate for whistleblowers’ rights and protections during his time in the U.S. Senate. In 2014, Grassley announced his plan to create the bipartisan Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus to raise awareness of the need for adequate protections against retaliation for private sector and government employees who call attention to wrongdoing. The caucus is now chaired by Grassley and Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon. In today’s video, Grassley highlights the importance of America’s truth-tellers who risk retribution to uncover corruption and wrongdoing within the U.S. government. The video can be found here and the text can be found below.

This week we celebrate Independence Day. We celebrate the blessings of freedom, liberty and justice for all. We also honor the patriots who took up arms to fight tyranny and establish our self-government.

Today I salute another American patriot. Our citizen truth-tellers.

Did you know that 240 years ago, the Continental Congress established a legacy for whistleblowers and for congressional oversight? This was even before our constitution was written.

It passed historic legislation – on July 30, 1778 enacting – the first-ever whistleblower protections.

The previous year, on February 19, 10 brave sailors aboard the warship “Warren” decided it was their duty to report wrongdoing against our government. In retaliation, they were slapped with a criminal libel suit. 

The Continental Congress shut down those shenanigans. It made clear that it is the duty of citizens to report wrongdoing “in the service to the United States … to give the earliest information to Congress…. of any misconduct, frauds or misdemeanors.”

For generations, brave citizens have stuck their necks out for the public good. At risk to their careers, livelihoods and good name, whistleblowers have put it all on the line to report the truth.

As a watchdog for good government, we need all hands on deck to root out misconduct. Six years ago this month, my resolution to designate July 30th as “National Whistleblower Appreciation Day” was first adopted by the United States Senate.

Since the earliest days of our republic – to this very day – whistleblowers have made government better by telling the truth. Pretty simple, just telling the truth. On my watch, I’ll make sure we uphold this vital pipeline of communication to hold our government accountable.

-30-