A bipartisan group of Senators came together yesterday to launch the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus. Led by Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the caucus’ aim is to serve as a resource for Senate offices that are interested in whistleblower issues.

According to Grassley, the caucus chair, the group will “help create a culture where the contributions of whistleblowers are valued and their rights respected.” To this end, the caucus plans to offer training and consult Senate offices on how to handle whistleblower disclosures and protect whistleblowers from retaliation. It will also serve as a clearinghouse for information on whistleblower issues.

The Government Accountability Project came out with a strong endorsement of the caucus, noting that “historically, whistleblower protections have enjoyed bipartisan support”. The caucus’ founding members include Republican Sens. Ron Johnson, Wis., Mark Kirk, Ill., Deb Fischer, Neb., and Thom Tillis, N.C., as well as Democrats Barbara Boxer, Calif., Claire McCaskill, Mo., Tammy Baldwin, Wis., and Ed Markey, Mass.

We are happy to see senators standing up for the rights of whistleblowers, who often put their careers on the line to expose instances of fraud and abuse within the government and ensure that valuable information is not unnecessarily withheld from the public.