Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)
Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection Act
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection Act aims to provide specific legal protections to employees working in the offshore oil and gas industry. It prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who report violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act or report safety concerns such as injuries or oil spill risks. The bill establishes a formal process for filing complaints with the Secretary of Labor and conducting investigations. If a violation is found, the law allows for various forms of relief, including reinstatement and back pay. It also provides pathways for legal action in federal courts.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +5
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill protects workers who report issues regarding the adequacy of oil spill response plans and environmental violations.
- Scored +4
Would union members be better off under this?
The bill strengthens job security and legal protections for industrial workers in the offshore sector.
- Scored +3
Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise?
The bill enhances worker rights by providing legal recourse and financial remedies for retaliation in the offshore industry.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill creates new administrative processes, investigation requirements, and potential financial liabilities for employers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection for Reporting Safety and Environmental Risks: Workers are protected from retaliation if they report illnesses, injuries, unsafe conditions, or issues regarding the adequacy of oil spill response plans (Section 2(a)(6)).
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Protection for Refusing Dangerous Work: Employees can exercise "stop work authority" or refuse duties without fear of retaliation if they have a reasonable belief that the work could cause injury or an oil spill (Section 2(a)(7)).
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Protection for Reporting Legal Violations: The bill protects those who provide information regarding violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act or related regulations (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Access to Financial Remedies: If an employee is wrongfully terminated or discriminated against, they can be awarded relief such as reinstatement, double back pay, interest, and compensatory damages (Section 2(b)(3)(B)).
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Mandatory Safety Information and Training: Employers are required to post notices explaining employee rights and must provide training on these rights within 30 days of employment and annually thereafter (Section 2(e)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Burden of Proof for Complainants: To move forward with a complaint, a worker must make a "prima facie" showing that their protected activity was a contributing factor in the adverse action taken against them (Section 2(b)(2)(D)(i)).
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Employer Defense Against Complaints: An employer can avoid an investigation or relief by demonstrating through "clear and convincing evidence" that they would have taken the same adverse action regardless of the employee's behavior (Section 2(b)(2)(D)(ii)).
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Time Constraints on Filing: Employees must file their complaint within 180 days of the alleged violation or when they should have reasonably known about it (Section 2(b)(1)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill protects workers who report issues regarding the adequacy of oil spill response plans and environmental violations.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would union members be better off under this? — The bill strengthens job security and legal protections for industrial workers in the offshore sector. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill offers financial remedies like back pay and damages for workers facing retaliation. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill creates new administrative processes, investigation requirements, and potential financial liabilities for employers.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this strengthen the rights of workers to organise? — The bill enhances worker rights by providing legal recourse and financial remedies for retaliation in the offshore industry.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill establishes a formal process for reporting violations to government officials and mandates public postings of employee rights.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill provides for back pay and compensatory damages which can help protect a worker's income stability.
- 7/27/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Introduced in House