DISCLOSURE OF CENSORSHIP RELATED TO RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, OR TECHNICAL INFORMATION.

SEC. 110. [5 U.S.C. 2302 note] DISCLOSURE OF CENSORSHIP RELATED TO RESEARCH, ANALYSIS, OR TECHNICAL INFORMATION. (a) Definitions.—In this subsection— (1) the term “agency” has the meaning given under section 2302(a)(2)(C) of title 5, United States Code; (2) the term “applicant” means an applicant for a covered position; (3) the term “censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information” means any effort to distort, misrepresent, or suppress research, analysis, or technical information; (4) the term “covered position” has the meaning given under section 2302(a)(2)(B) of title 5, United States Code; (5) the term “employee” means an employee in a covered position in an agency; and (6) the term “disclosure” has the meaning given under section 2302(a)(2)(D) of title 5, United States Code. (b) Protected Disclosure.— (1) In general.—Any disclosure of information by an employee or applicant for employment that the employee or applicant reasonably believes is evidence of censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information— (A) shall come within the protections of section 2302(b)(8)(A) of title 5, United States Code, if— (i) the employee or applicant reasonably believes that the censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information is or will cause— (I) any violation of law, rule, or regulation; or (II) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; and (ii) such disclosure is not specifically prohibited by law or such information is not specifically required by Executive order to be kept classified in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs; and (B) shall come within the protections of section 2302(b)(8)(B) of title 5, United States Code, if— (i) the employee or applicant reasonably believes that the censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information is or will cause— (I) any violation of law, rule, or regulation; or (II) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; and (ii) the disclosure is made to the Special Counsel, or to the Inspector General of an agency or another person designated by the head of the agency to receive such disclosures, consistent with the protection of sources and methods. (2) Disclosures not excluded.—A disclosure shall not be excluded from paragraph (1) for any reason described under section 2302(f)(1) or (2) of title 5, United States Code. (3) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to imply any limitation on the protections of employees and applicants afforded by any other provision of law, including protections with respect to any disclosure of information believed to be evidence of censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information.