July 12,2007

Grassley works to protect whistleblowers at the National Institutes of Health

WASHINGTON — Sen. Chuck Grassley is working to protect federal employees who speak out about wrongdoing by highlighting the legal protections given to whistleblowers in a letter sent today to the Director of the National Institutes of Health.

“No federal employee should fear retaliation for voicing concerns about mismanagement or misuse of tax payer dollars,” Grassley said. “Sunshine is the best disinfectant. I hope NIH officials will make agency employees feel comfortable about speaking with congressional staff.”

Grassley is investigating allegations of mismanagement at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, one of the 27 institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health. He has ongoing reviews of several agencies whose medical research and use of public funds help to advance public welfare.

Grassley also today said that federal employees who wish to contact his staff can send faxes to 202/228-2131 or call 202/224-6447.

Grassley is Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Finance. The text of his letter to Elias Zerhouni, Director of the National Institutes of Health, is attached in the Printer-Friendly Version of this release.

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