{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/o-halleran-offers-amendment-protect-whistleblowers-disclosing-info-improper", "OHalleran Offers Amendment to Protect Whistleblowers Disclosing Info on the Improper Use of Aircrafts by Government Officials", "2017-10-12", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Tom O\u2019Halleran introduced an amendment to the\u00a0Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017\u00a0to provide greater whistleblower protections to federal employees who disclose information on the improper use of aircrafts by government officials.\nIn a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives, Congressman Tom O\u2019Halleran said, \u201cI am proud that we are coming together to increase protections for whistleblowers at federal agencies, a long overdue effort. But, in light of recent reports and events that have revealed a disturbing pattern of improper use of tax dollars on air travel by senior federal officials, I believe we must go further.\n\u201cMy amendment simply extends whistleblower protections that are created under the bill to federal employees who disclose information about travel, including improper use of aircraft,\u201d continued O\u2019Halleran. \u201cNot only would this make it clear to agencies that any violation of laws, rules, or regulations concerning travel or government aircraft is unacceptable \u2013 it will also ensure those who come forward to expose any wrongdoing will have appropriate protection from retaliation.\u201d\nThe amendment failed to pass the House of Representatives on a 190 to 232 vote.\u00a0\nEarlier this month, Rep. O\u2019Halleran introduced the Taxpayers Don\u2019t Incur Meaningless Expenses (Taxpayers DIME) Act. This bill would prevent government officials from using taxpayer money on private air travel that violates current rules. Additionally, the bill increases transparency and oversight of government travel and calls for the independent Office of Government Ethics (OGE) to report on ways to strengthen existing rules.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/o-halleran-offers-amendment-protect-whistleblowers-disclosing-info-improper"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4283829368650913, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}