Chuck Grassley
Senator for Iowa · Republican · United States
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4173-S4174] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] Socialism Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr.”
“I am glad some Democrats share this concern, as Democrat pollster Mark Penn wrote in the Wall Street Journal. Democrats could take a playbook out of the 1947 effort by Eleanor Roosevelt and Hubert Humphrey, as recently reported in the Washington Post. Socialism is a failed ideology and experiment.”
“For 36 days, the Department of Homeland Security was shuttered due to their refusal to fund Federal law enforcement and border security. Ultimately, the majority had to take matters into their own hands.”
“For 36 days, the Department of Homeland Security was shuttered due to their refusal to fund Federal law enforcement and border security. Ultimately, the majority had to take matters into their own hands.”
“One analysis about Venezuela's experience with socialism put it this way: So, what are the results of socialism in Venezuela? Well, we have experienced hyperinflation. We have people eating garbage, schools that do not teach, hospitals that do not heal, long and humiliating lines to buy flour, bread, and basic medicines.”
“According to a White House Council of Economic Advisers report, if the United States had moved toward Nordic country-style policies in the 1970s, by 2018, America's GDP would be at least 19 percent smaller, coming out to about 11,000 fewer dollars of wealth per person here in the United States.”
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“We should not forget what history has taught us or, as George Santayana once said almost 100 years ago: If you don't learn from history, you are going to repeat the same mistakes. The United States was founded on principles of individual liberty and on unalienable natural rights, with the government's primary function being to preserve those rights and prevent fellow citizens or attacks by foreign powers from violating our constitutional rights. Americans have been reluctant to grant too much power to the government since the very beginning. Ultimately, free markets have helped America become the richest country in the world and have lifted more people from poverty than anything else in human history. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee.”
“We have people eating garbage, schools that do not teach, hospitals that do not heal, long and humiliating lines to buy flour, bread, and basic medicines. So history is very clear: Economic freedom is a ticket to broad prosperity. Today's American socialists espouse more than just economic ruin and fewer freedoms. They want less law and order by abolishing ICE, defunding the police, and emptying out our prisons. [[Page S4174]] Don't take my word for it; just look at the agenda of some of the recent people who have won Democratic primaries in New York City. The Democratic socialist platform also wants to defund the Department of Defense, get rid of the U.S. Senate, and draft a new Constitution. Other countries that tried socialism have failed. Socialists' ideas and candidates offer failed ideas.”
“At the time, Venezuela was the richest country in South America, and now it is one of the poorest. One of Chavez's first actions was to nationalize the agriculture sector and rob landowners of their property. Food production fell 75 percent over two decades. Chavez went on to nationalize other parts of the economy, including electricity, water, oil, banks, supermarkets, construction, and other parts. He did this all while also expanding the welfare state with money that the country didn't have. Not only is the country poor, but it has also been ruled by brutal dictators, under Chavez and Nicolas Maduro, and riddled with corruption. One analysis about Venezuela's experience with socialism put it this way: So, what are the results of socialism in Venezuela? Well, we have experienced hyperinflation.”
“Decades of socialism meant that by the 2000s, Cuba lacked basic infrastructure and reliable energy. A 2005 report found: Instead of blackouts, Cubans jokingly refer to periods when electricity was available as ``lights-in.'' That energy crisis continues today, and you see it reported on American television. Cuba's story under socialism can be summed up by Margaret Thatcher's words. When she was Prime Minister of Great Britain, she said: The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money. Not everyone in Cuba has suffered. Its dictators have taken care of themselves. If Sweden and Cuba aren't enough reasons why socialism has failed as an idea, let's take a look at Venezuela. In 1998, socialist Hugo Chavez became President of Venezuela.”
“According to a White House Council of Economic Advisers report, if the United States had moved toward Nordic country-style policies in the 1970s, by 2018, America's GDP would be at least 19 percent smaller, coming out to about 11,000 fewer dollars of wealth per person here in the United States. We can learn a lot from Sweden so we don't go down the dead-end road called socialism. We can also learn a lot from Cuba's experience moving from freedom to socialism. That happened in 1959. Cuba's standard of living over the past 50 years has been destroyed. In 1959, after Fidel Castro came to power, the Cuban Government took away private property and established price controls. This led to food shortages, and you can see that on our own televisions being a problem today in Cuba. Castro's regime even killed political opposition.”
“Then it started to adopt socialist policies. During Sweden's experiment with socialism between the 1960s and the 1980s, it experienced short- lived prosperity, massive government spending and taxation, and a highly regulated economy that eventually came crashing down. During that time, not a single net job was created in Sweden's private sector, and inflation took away almost all of the value of any wage increases. Sweden's socialist policies killed off its wealth creation that was needed to fund all of that government spending. By the 1990s, Sweden realized its mistake and reversed course, and its leftwing Swedish Social Democrats recognized their mistake as well.”
“Socialist countries have also seen private property confiscated and constitutional rights taken away from the people. Recently, there is a group of socialists called Democratic Socialists that have won Democrat Party primaries. Where I sit, socialism is still socialism. They may think that calling themselves democratic somehow would cancel out all of the negatives of socialism, but they want to bring about the same negative outcomes that will produce less prosperity and less freedom. Example after example in history backs up my point. In 2021, I spoke here on the Senate floor about Sweden's experiment with socialism. I encourage my colleagues to go back and read that speech. In case they don't have time, I will summarize it right now. In the 1950s, Sweden gained newfound wealth and economic freedom.”
“I am glad some Democrats share this concern, as Democrat pollster Mark Penn wrote in the Wall Street Journal. Democrats could take a playbook out of the 1947 effort by Eleanor Roosevelt and Hubert Humphrey, as recently reported in the Washington Post. Socialism is a failed ideology and experiment. It claims to focus on the good of society as a whole over the rights of individuals. This is in contrast to America's founding principles. Socialism, whether it is the revolutionary kind or the democratic kind, is aimed at government ownership of industry and the elimination of private property. Countries that have adopted socialism have found themselves less prosperous, even witnessing starvation and economic ruin followed by lawlessness and corruption. The only people that benefit from it are the people in the political system.”
“Mr. President, with recent political victories in Democrat primaries in Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere by socialists, I wanted to spend some time with my colleagues sharing the failed results that we have witnessed throughout history under socialism regimes. And if any of my colleagues consider themselves democratic socialists, I would like their attention. The expansion of candidates and people who want to institute socialism in the United States is very concerning. What they desire is going to destroy everything America has stood for. The recent trend toward socialism in the Democratic Party frankly surprises me. It ought to make every traditional Democrat worry about the trend of their party and be a warning for all of us.”
“It is time for my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to work with us and get the job done to avoid a government shutdown or, better yet, follow the advice of Senator Lankford of Oklahoma, who has been working on a continuing resolution bill that automatically carries from September 30 [[Page S4166]] into the new fiscal year without having to shut down government. We would never have to go through that again.”
“Yet, this year, the minority party is refusing to work in a bipartisan manner and cooperate even to get the appropriations process started in the U.S. Senate. The Appropriations Committee has not been able to report a single appropriations bill to the Senate floor. Now we are less than 3 months from a new fiscal year and, once again, the minority party is prioritizing a government shutdown over cooperation. They want to play politics at the expense of the American family and our Nation's welfare. Lurching from one deadline to the next is the wrong way to run Washington and ought to be avoided. The majority, led by Senator Collins, is working and willing to do the hard work of passing 12 annual appropriations bills on time.”
“For 36 days, the Department of Homeland Security was shuttered due to their refusal to fund Federal law enforcement and border security. Ultimately, the majority had to take matters into their own hands. So through the reconciliation process, the bill called the Secure America Act funded Federal law enforcement officers, border security, and protecting American communities from violent criminals, illicit drugs, and contraband. Obviously, it was a choice from the other side of the aisle to not fund these critical priorities. You would think that the minority would have learned that government shutdowns never accomplished anything. After all, they achieved none of their policy objectives, although their costly government shutdown compromised our Nation's security and, at the same time, inflicted pain on the American public.”
“They refused to work with the majority party to get these appropriations bills across the finishing line, even refusing to pass a short-term, clean continuing resolution to keep government open while funding negotiations continued. Rather than prioritizing ordinary Americans, the other side of the aisle decided to hold government funding hostage to support and score political points with their activist base. The end result was the famous 43-day government shutdown, which was the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Only then did the minority party agree to enact a short-term, clean continuing resolution. Eventually, Congress passed 11 of 12 appropriations bills in their entirety. However, the minority mischief was far from over.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4165-S4166] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] Appropriations Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, it is the responsibility of Congress every year to pass appropriations bills to fund the government. Failure to enact the 12 annual appropriations bills by the end of the fiscal year of September 30 has, with increasing frequency, resulted in major government shutdowns. Last year, Senator Collins, as chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, worked with strong bipartisan support to report funding bills to the floor. Unfortunately, that is where the minority party's cooperation ended.”
“Ultimately, free markets have helped America become the richest country in the world and have lifted more people from poverty than anything else in human history. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee.”
“Senate, and draft a new Constitution. Other countries that tried socialism have failed. Socialists' ideas and candidates offer failed ideas. We should not forget what history has taught us or, as George Santayana once said almost 100 years ago: If you don't learn from history, you are going to repeat the same mistakes. The United States was founded on principles of individual liberty and on unalienable natural rights, with the government's primary function being to preserve those rights and prevent fellow citizens or attacks by foreign powers from violating our constitutional rights. Americans have been reluctant to grant too much power to the government since the very beginning.”
“One analysis about Venezuela's experience with socialism put it this way: So, what are the results of socialism in Venezuela? Well, we have experienced hyperinflation. We have people eating garbage, schools that do not teach, hospitals that do not heal, long and humiliating lines to buy flour, bread, and basic medicines. So history is very clear: Economic freedom is a ticket to broad prosperity. Today's American socialists espouse more than just economic ruin and fewer freedoms. They want less law and order by abolishing ICE, defunding the police, and emptying out our prisons. [[Page S4174]] Don't take my word for it; just look at the agenda of some of the recent people who have won Democratic primaries in New York City. The Democratic socialist platform also wants to defund the Department of Defense, get rid of the U.S.”
“If Sweden and Cuba aren't enough reasons why socialism has failed as an idea, let's take a look at Venezuela. In 1998, socialist Hugo Chavez became President of Venezuela. At the time, Venezuela was the richest country in South America, and now it is one of the poorest. One of Chavez's first actions was to nationalize the agriculture sector and rob landowners of their property. Food production fell 75 percent over two decades. Chavez went on to nationalize other parts of the economy, including electricity, water, oil, banks, supermarkets, construction, and other parts. He did this all while also expanding the welfare state with money that the country didn't have. Not only is the country poor, but it has also been ruled by brutal dictators, under Chavez and Nicolas Maduro, and riddled with corruption.”
“This led to food shortages, and you can see that on our own televisions being a problem today in Cuba. Castro's regime even killed political opposition. Decades of socialism meant that by the 2000s, Cuba lacked basic infrastructure and reliable energy. A 2005 report found: Instead of blackouts, Cubans jokingly refer to periods when electricity was available as ``lights-in.'' That energy crisis continues today, and you see it reported on American television. Cuba's story under socialism can be summed up by Margaret Thatcher's words. When she was Prime Minister of Great Britain, she said: The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money. Not everyone in Cuba has suffered. Its dictators have taken care of themselves.”
“By the 1990s, Sweden realized its mistake and reversed course, and its leftwing Swedish Social Democrats recognized their mistake as well. According to a White House Council of Economic Advisers report, if the United States had moved toward Nordic country-style policies in the 1970s, by 2018, America's GDP would be at least 19 percent smaller, coming out to about 11,000 fewer dollars of wealth per person here in the United States. We can learn a lot from Sweden so we don't go down the dead-end road called socialism. We can also learn a lot from Cuba's experience moving from freedom to socialism. That happened in 1959. Cuba's standard of living over the past 50 years has been destroyed. In 1959, after Fidel Castro came to power, the Cuban Government took away private property and established price controls.”
“In 2021, I spoke here on the Senate floor about Sweden's experiment with socialism. I encourage my colleagues to go back and read that speech. In case they don't have time, I will summarize it right now. In the 1950s, Sweden gained newfound wealth and economic freedom. Then it started to adopt socialist policies. During Sweden's experiment with socialism between the 1960s and the 1980s, it experienced short- lived prosperity, massive government spending and taxation, and a highly regulated economy that eventually came crashing down. During that time, not a single net job was created in Sweden's private sector, and inflation took away almost all of the value of any wage increases. Sweden's socialist policies killed off its wealth creation that was needed to fund all of that government spending.”
“Countries that have adopted socialism have found themselves less prosperous, even witnessing starvation and economic ruin followed by lawlessness and corruption. The only people that benefit from it are the people in the political system. Socialist countries have also seen private property confiscated and constitutional rights taken away from the people. Recently, there is a group of socialists called Democratic Socialists that have won Democrat Party primaries. Where I sit, socialism is still socialism. They may think that calling themselves democratic somehow would cancel out all of the negatives of socialism, but they want to bring about the same negative outcomes that will produce less prosperity and less freedom. Example after example in history backs up my point.”
“The recent trend toward socialism in the Democratic Party frankly surprises me. It ought to make every traditional Democrat worry about the trend of their party and be a warning for all of us. I am glad some Democrats share this concern, as Democrat pollster Mark Penn wrote in the Wall Street Journal. Democrats could take a playbook out of the 1947 effort by Eleanor Roosevelt and Hubert Humphrey, as recently reported in the Washington Post. Socialism is a failed ideology and experiment. It claims to focus on the good of society as a whole over the rights of individuals. This is in contrast to America's founding principles. Socialism, whether it is the revolutionary kind or the democratic kind, is aimed at government ownership of industry and the elimination of private property.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4173-S4174] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] Socialism Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, with recent political victories in Democrat primaries in Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere by socialists, I wanted to spend some time with my colleagues sharing the failed results that we have witnessed throughout history under socialism regimes. And if any of my colleagues consider themselves democratic socialists, I would like their attention. The expansion of candidates and people who want to institute socialism in the United States is very concerning. What they desire is going to destroy everything America has stood for.”
“It is time for my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to work with us and get the job done to avoid a government shutdown or, better yet, follow the advice of Senator Lankford of Oklahoma, who has been working on a continuing resolution bill that automatically carries from September 30 [[Page S4166]] into the new fiscal year without having to shut down government. We would never have to go through that again.”
“Yet, this year, the minority party is refusing to work in a bipartisan manner and cooperate even to get the appropriations process started in the U.S. Senate. The Appropriations Committee has not been able to report a single appropriations bill to the Senate floor. Now we are less than 3 months from a new fiscal year and, once again, the minority party is prioritizing a government shutdown over cooperation. They want to play politics at the expense of the American family and our Nation's welfare. Lurching from one deadline to the next is the wrong way to run Washington and ought to be avoided. The majority, led by Senator Collins, is working and willing to do the hard work of passing 12 annual appropriations bills on time.”
“For 36 days, the Department of Homeland Security was shuttered due to their refusal to fund Federal law enforcement and border security. Ultimately, the majority had to take matters into their own hands. So through the reconciliation process, the bill called the Secure America Act funded Federal law enforcement officers, border security, and protecting American communities from violent criminals, illicit drugs, and contraband. Obviously, it was a choice from the other side of the aisle to not fund these critical priorities. You would think that the minority would have learned that government shutdowns never accomplished anything. After all, they achieved none of their policy objectives, although their costly government shutdown compromised our Nation's security and, at the same time, inflicted pain on the American public.”
“They refused to work with the majority party to get these appropriations bills across the finishing line, even refusing to pass a short-term, clean continuing resolution to keep government open while funding negotiations continued. Rather than prioritizing ordinary Americans, the other side of the aisle decided to hold government funding hostage to support and score political points with their activist base. The end result was the famous 43-day government shutdown, which was the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Only then did the minority party agree to enact a short-term, clean continuing resolution. Eventually, Congress passed 11 of 12 appropriations bills in their entirety. However, the minority mischief was far from over.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 21, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4165-S4166] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] Appropriations Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, it is the responsibility of Congress every year to pass appropriations bills to fund the government. Failure to enact the 12 annual appropriations bills by the end of the fiscal year of September 30 has, with increasing frequency, resulted in major government shutdowns. Last year, Senator Collins, as chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, worked with strong bipartisan support to report funding bills to the floor. Unfortunately, that is where the minority party's cooperation ended.”
“So I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to pass a Defense bill that strengthens our national security and best supports our military readiness. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant executive clerk proceeded to call the roll.”
“I am also pleased that a provision I worked on is included in the bill that reinforces the notion that Russia's aggression toward Ukraine is unacceptable. This provision prohibits funds being used to recognize Russia's control over any Ukrainian territory that has been forcibly seized by Russia. I have offered several amendments to this Defense bill to combat crime and support law enforcement, strengthen security provisions and cooperation in the Baltics, and condemn very strongly Russia's abduction of Ukrainian children, which has been in the amounts of tens of thousands of children. If the Defense bill is passed this year, it will be the 66th consecutive year that Congress has passed this important annual Defense legislation.”
“We have learned from our history that preventing conflicts is less costly and spares more lives. I support the $1.1 trillion authorization put forth by our Senate Armed Services Committee. The fiscal year 2027 Defense bill supports our servicemembers, boosts our national industrial defense base and allows for historic investment in our national security. This legislation also includes important provisions that I back to hold defense contractors accountable. This includes a requirement that contractors provide notification when the price of a product or service increases beyond a predetermined threshold. While our investments in defense increase, ensuring accountability and fiscal responsibility is very paramount. Companies that work for the government should not be ripping the taxpayers off.”
“Mr. President, as the Senate and House are currently working on the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, it is important--very important--that Congress pass this bill. We need a very strong and capable military, and we need to hold the Pentagon accountable for taxpayer dollars. For 240 years, the No. 1 responsibility of the Federal Government has been national security. A nonnegotiable tenet of America's national security is ``peace through strength.'' In preventing war, a strong Department of War is also an instrument of peace. So, to achieve peace through strength, we must invest in our Nation's defense and modernize military capabilities to be best prepared for any threat. Our military ought to be strong enough to deter any aggressor.”
“President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________”
“I have offered several amendments to this Defense bill to combat crime and support law enforcement, strengthen security provisions and cooperation in the Baltics, and condemn very strongly Russia's abduction of Ukrainian children, which has been in the amounts of tens of thousands of children. If the Defense bill is passed this year, it will be the 66th consecutive year that Congress has passed this important annual Defense legislation. So I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to pass a Defense bill that strengthens our national security and best supports our military readiness. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant executive clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mr. THUNE. Mr.”
“This includes a requirement that contractors provide notification when the price of a product or service increases beyond a predetermined threshold. While our investments in defense increase, ensuring accountability and fiscal responsibility is very paramount. Companies that work for the government should not be ripping the taxpayers off. I am also pleased that a provision I worked on is included in the bill that reinforces the notion that Russia's aggression toward Ukraine is unacceptable. This provision prohibits funds being used to recognize Russia's control over any Ukrainian territory that has been forcibly seized by Russia.”
“A nonnegotiable tenet of America's national security is ``peace through strength.'' In preventing war, a strong Department of War is also an instrument of peace. So, to achieve peace through strength, we must invest in our Nation's defense and modernize military capabilities to be best prepared for any threat. Our military ought to be strong enough to deter any aggressor. We have learned from our history that preventing conflicts is less costly and spares more lives. I support the $1.1 trillion authorization put forth by our Senate Armed Services Committee. The fiscal year 2027 Defense bill supports our servicemembers, boosts our national industrial defense base and allows for historic investment in our national security. This legislation also includes important provisions that I back to hold defense contractors accountable.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S3913] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, as the Senate and House are currently working on the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, it is important--very important--that Congress pass this bill. We need a very strong and capable military, and we need to hold the Pentagon accountable for taxpayer dollars. For 240 years, the No. 1 responsibility of the Federal Government has been national security.”
“(6) Employer.--The term ``employer'' means any person (including any officer, employee, contractor, subcontractor, agent, company, partnership, or other individual or entity) engaged in commerce or an industry [[Page S3797]] or activity affecting commerce who pays any compensation to a covered individual in exchange for the covered individual providing work to the person. ______”
“(4) Commerce.--The terms ``commerce'' and ``industry or activity affecting commerce'' mean any activity, business, or industry in commerce or in which a labor dispute would hinder or obstruct commerce or the free flow of commerce, and include ``commerce'' and any ``industry affecting commerce'', as defined in paragraphs (1) and (3) of section 501 of the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947 (29 U.S.C. 142 (1) and (3)). (5) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual'' includes-- (A) an employee, including a former employee; and (B) a current or former independent contractor, contractor, subcontractor, personal services contractor, grantee, subgrantee, or agent.”
“(3) Artificial system.--The term ``artificial system''-- (A) means any data system, software, application, tool, or utility that operates in whole or in part using dynamic or static machine learning algorithms or other forms of artificial intelligence, including in the case-- (i) the data system, software, application, tool, or utility is established primarily for the purpose of researching, developing, or implementing artificial intelligence technology; or (ii) artificial intelligence capability is integrated into another system or agency business process, operational activity, or technology system; (B) means any system, tool, or application that-- (i) uses artificial intelligence to generate outputs affecting digital or physical environments; and (ii) operates with some capacity to generalize, adapt, or perform tasks beyond those explicitly pre-programmed by human designers; and (C) does not include any common commercial product within which artificial intelligence is embedded, such as a word processor or map navigation system.”
“(2) Artificial intelligence.--The term ``artificial intelligence'' has the meaning given such term in section 238(g) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232; 10 U.S.C. note prec. 4061).”
“(e) Predispute Arbitration Agreements.--No predispute arbitration agreement shall be valid or enforceable, if the agreement requires arbitration of a dispute arising under this section. (f) Definitions.--In this section: (1) AI violation.--The term ``AI violation'' means-- (A) any violation of Federal law, including rules and regulations, related to or committed as part of the development, deployment, or use of artificial intelligence or an artificial system; (B) any failure to appropriately respond to a substantial and specific danger that the development, deployment, or use of artificial intelligence may pose to public safety, public health, or national security; or (C) any failure or lapse in security that reasonably could be expected to cause artificial intelligence technology to be acquired by a person (including a foreign entity) by theft or other unlawful means.”
“(c) Nonenforceability Waivers of Rights or Remedies.--The rights, procedures, and remedies provided for in this section may not be waived or altered by any contract, agreement, policy form, or condition of employment (or condition of work or post-work), including by any agreement requiring a covered individual to engage in arbitration, mediation, or any other alternative dispute resolution process prior to seeking relief under subsection (b). (d) Rights Retained by Covered Individuals.--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.”
“(3) Relief.--Relief for a covered individual prevailing with respect to a complaint filed under paragraph (1)(A) or an action under paragraph (1)(B) shall include-- (A) reinstatement with the same seniority status that the covered individual would have had, but for the violation; (B) 2 times the amount of back pay otherwise owed to the covered individual, with interest; (C) the payment of compensatory damages, which shall include compensation for litigation costs, expert witness fees, and reasonable attorneys' fees; and (D) any other appropriate remedy with respect to the violation as determined by the Secretary of Labor in a complaint under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) or by the court in an action under subparagraph (B) of such paragraph.”
“(ii) Statute of limitations.-- (I) In general.--An action may not be brought under paragraph (1)(B)-- (aa) more than 6 years after the date on which the violation of subsection (a) occurs; or (bb) more than 3 years after the date on which facts material to the right of action are known, or reasonably should have been known, by the covered individual bringing the action. (II) Required action within 10 years.--Notwithstanding subclause (I), an action under paragraph (1)(B) may not in any circumstance be brought more than 10 years after the date on which the violation occurs.”
“(iii) Enforcement of orders.--In addition to any final order issued pursuant to paragraph (3) of section 42121(b) of title 49, United States Code, with respect to a complaint filed by a covered individual under paragraph (1)(A), a preliminary order issued pursuant to paragraph (2) of such section by the Secretary of Labor with respect to such a complaint may be enforced by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to section 42121(b)(5) of such title or by the covered individual pursuant to section 42121(b)(6) of such title. (B) District court actions.-- (i) Jury trial.--A party to an action brought under paragraph (1)(B) shall be entitled to trial by jury.”
“(2) Procedure.-- (A) Department of labor complaints.-- (i) In general.--Except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii) and paragraph (3), a complaint filed with the Secretary of Labor under paragraph (1)(A) shall be governed by the rules and procedures set forth in section 42121(b) of title 49, United States Code, and the legal burdens of proof described in section 1221(e) of title 5, United States Code. (ii) Exceptions.--With respect to a complaint filed under paragraph (1)(A), notification required under section 42121(b)(1) of title 49, United States Code, shall be made to each person named in the complaint, including the employer.”
“(b) Enforcement.-- (1) In general.--A covered individual who alleges they are aggrieved by a violation of subsection (a) may seek relief under paragraph (3) by-- (A) filing a complaint with the Secretary of Labor in accordance with the requirements of paragraph (2)(A); or (B) if the Secretary of Labor has not issued a final decision in accordance with such paragraph within 180 days of the filing of a complaint under subparagraph (A), and there is no showing that such a delay is due to the bad faith of the covered individual, bringing an action against the employer at law or in equity in the appropriate district court of the United States, which shall have jurisdiction over such an action without regard to the amount in controversy.”
“(a) Prohibition Against Retaliation.--No employer may, directly or indirectly, discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, blacklist, harass, or in any other manner discriminate against a covered individual in the terms and conditions of employment or post-employment of the covered individual (or, in the case of a covered individual who is not an employee, the terms and conditions of work or post-work of the covered individual) because of any lawful act done by the covered individual-- (1) in providing information regarding an AI violation, or any conduct that the covered individual reasonably believes constitutes an AI violation, to-- (A) the appropriate regulatory official or the Attorney General; (B) a regulatory or law enforcement agency; or (C) any Member of Congress or any committee of Congress; (2) in initiating, testifying in, or assisting in any investigation or judicial or administrative action of an appropriate regulatory or law enforcement agency or the Department of Justice, or any investigation of Congress, based upon or related to the information described in paragraph (1); or (3) in providing information regarding an AI violation, or any conduct that the covered individual reasonably believes constitutes an AI violation, to-- (A) a person with supervisory authority over the covered individual at the employer of the covered individual; or (B) another individual working for the employer described in subparagraph (A) whom the covered individual reasonably believes has the authority to-- (i) investigate, discover, or terminate the misconduct; or (ii) take any other action to address the misconduct.”