Statement on Signing Legislation To Reauthorize the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Office of Special Counsel

Today, I am signing into law H.R. 2970, a bill to reauthorize the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Office of Special Counsel and provide additional protections for Federal employee whistleblowers and other victims of prohibited personnel practices.

I have been advised that one provision in this bill (section 9), which concerns the apparent authority of an arbitrator to discipline a Federal employee who was not a party to the original action, raises serious constitutional questions.

Accordingly, I am directing the agencies to follow appropriate procedures to protect the constitutional rights of such Federal employees and to consider the need for remedial legislation.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON

The White House, October 29, 1994.