No-FEAR Act
Other short title(s) | Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2001 |
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Long title | An Act to require that Federal agencies be accountable for violations of antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws, and for other purposes. |
Nickname(s) | Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 |
Enacted by the | 107th United States Congress |
Effective | May 15, 2002 |
Citations | |
Public Law | 107-174 |
Stat. | 116 Stat. 566 |
Codification | |
Title(s) amended | 5 U.S.C.: Government Organization and Employees |
U.S.C. section(s) amended | 5 U.S.C. ch. 23 § 2301 et seq. |
Legislative history | |
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Major amendments | |
Civil Rights Act of 1964 | |
The Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 is a United States federal law that seeks to discourage federal managers and supervisors from engaging in unlawful discrimination and retaliation. It is popularly called the No-FEAR Act, and is also known as Public Law 107–174.
Enactment
On August 18, 2000, a federal jury found the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guilty of violating the civil rights of Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo on the basis of race, sex, color and a hostile work environment, under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She was awarded $600,000. The EPA had refused to promote Coleman-Adebayo shortly after she alleged the presence of environmental and health problems at the Brits, South Africa, vanadium mines.[1]
Sparked by this outcome, Congressman F.James Sensenbrenner, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee introduced the No-FEAR Act into Congress. Dr. Coleman-Adebayo founded the No FEAR Institute to organize support for the bill's purposes while continuing to work for the EPA.[1] The No FEAR Institute spearheaded the No FEAR Coalition to advocate for passage of the Act.[citation needed]
President George W. Bush signed it into law on May 15, 2002, making it the first United States civil rights law of the 21st Century.[citation needed]
Criticism
Dr. Coleman-Adebayo and others have criticized implementation of the No-FEAR Act on grounds that agencies are abusing the provision allowing them a "reasonable" time to make their reimbursements to the General Fund of the Treasury. They have proposed a No-FEAR II Act to set a time limit for such reimbursements, and to increase the penalties for violations.[citation needed]
Film
Danny Glover has been linked to a film about Dr. Coleman-Adebayo's experience.[2]
See also
- Civil rights
- African-American Civil Rights Movement
- Whistleblower
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fears, D., "Coming Soon: A Tale of Whistleblowing at the EPA," Washington Post, 10 July 2006.
- ↑ Washington Post: Coming Soon: A Tale of Whistle-Blowing at the EPA. July 10, 2006.
External links
- NOTIFICATION AND FEDERAL EMPLOYEE ANTIDISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION ACT OF 2002
- No FEAR Coalition web page
- Report of the Department of the Interior