Long-time whistleblower champion Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) took to the Senate floor this week to talk about the False Claims Act and the important role that whistleblowers play to stop fraud.
He reminds his colleagues “to stand strong for the most effective tool we have to combat fraud”: the False Claims Act with its qui tam (whistleblower) provisions.
Some excerpts: “Whistleblowers have always been crucial in helping Congress and the federal Government route out fraud and misconduct. It is simple common sense to reward and protect whistleblowers who report waste, fraud, and abuse. The False Claims Act does that.”
“In Fiscal Year 2014 alone, the federal Government recovered nearly $6 billion under the Act. That makes more than $22 billion since January 2009, and more than $42 billion since 1986. These recoveries represent victories across a wide array of industries and government programs. Those programs include mortgage insurance, federal student aid, and Medicare and Medicaid, as well as Defense contracts.”
“The Department of Justice credits whistleblowers for their important role in this success. According to the Justice Department, whistleblowers accounted for $3 billion in recoveries under the Act in Fiscal Year 2014. In fact, over 80% of False Claims Act cases are initiated by whistleblowers. Clearly the False Claims Act is working very well.”
“Congress intended to empower, protect, and reward relators who identify fraud against the taxpayers. History teaches us that weakening the relator’s rights weakens the government’s ability to fight fraud. All that does is let wrongdoers off the hook and cost the taxpayers money.”