# 119-hr-9947: Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection Act

119-hr-9947, Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-06).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9947
- As of: 2026-08-06
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-9947
- Congress: 119
- Title: Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-07-27
- Sponsor: Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Labor and Employment
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-06

## Summary

**Whistleblower protections for offshore oil and gas workers** would be established under this bill. It would bar employers from firing or punishing workers who report violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, report illnesses or unsafe conditions, testify, assist investigations, or refuse dangerous tasks using stop-work authority. - Workers: Covered employees and applicants on the Outer Continental Shelf would be protected when they report OCSLA violations, testify, assist proceedings, report injuries or unsafe conditions, or refuse unsafe work. - Employers and contractors: Employers would face a Labor Department complaint process with a 180-day filing deadline and a 90-day investigatory window. Employers could defend actions by showing clear and convincing evidence they would have acted the same way absent the protected conduct. - Enforcement and remedies: Administrative law judges could order reinstatement, double back pay with prejudgment interest, expungement of adverse records, and compensatory or exemplary damages. The Secretary of Labor may enforce reinstatement in federal court, appeals to the Secretary must be filed within 30 days, and a complainant may sue in district court if no final decision is issued within 330 days.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Whistleblower protections for offshore workers: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would bar employers from firing or punishing offshore workers for reporting safety or legal violations, refusing unsafe work, or testifying. It would cover applicants and people who work on or in waters above the Outer Continental Shelf for oil and gas, spill cleanup, emergency…
- Employer notice and training rules: benefit, low. If enacted, employers of covered offshore workers would have to post a Secretary-approved Labor Department notice where workers see it. They would have to train new hires on these rights within 30 days and provide training at least once a year. Employers would also give each covered worker a card w…
- Offshore whistleblower complaints and remedies: mixed, medium. If enacted, you would have 180 days to file a retaliation complaint with the Department of Labor. The Secretary would have 90 days to investigate and could issue a preliminary order; parties would have 30 days to object and request a hearing, and a complainant could sue in district court if no fina…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-5658: Child Care for Every Community Act
- 119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-9947 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9947)

## Related
- [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7481)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-5658: Child Care for Every Community Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5658)
- [119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3971)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9947 (as of 2026-08-06).