San Antonio Corridor News

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) has introduced H.R. 9721, known as the Ensuring Access to Whistleblower Protections Act. This legislation aims to close gaps in whistleblower protections for employees of HUD contractors. The bill mandates that contracts pre-dating 2013, which currently lack key whistleblower protections, will be updated to include Section 4712 anti-retaliation provisions when they undergo modifications.

“Whistleblowers play a crucial role in safeguarding taxpayer dollars by exposing fraud, waste, and abuse,” said Rep. De La Cruz. “No employee should fear retaliation for doing the right thing, yet thousands of HUD contracts leave employees vulnerable. This legislation is a critical step toward ensuring that all employees have the protections they deserve.”

This bill follows a July 2024 oversight letter led by Rep. De La Cruz and nine other members of the Financial Services Committee, urging HUD to take immediate action to address this gap. The HUD Office of Inspector General highlighted these concerns in a May 2023 management alert, and HUD has since indicated support for a legislative solution.

The Ensuring Access to Whistleblower Protections Act clarifies what contract activities mandate that HUD must make the best effort to incorporate whistleblower protections in pre-2013 contracts, providing long-overdue security to employees who disclose wrongdoing.