1. Application of whistleblower protection rules to legislative branch employees (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Congressional Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 . (b) Whistleblower amendments Part A of title II of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 ( 2 U.S.C. 1311 et seq.) is amended— (1) in the part heading, by striking fair labor standards, and all that follows and inserting and other protections and benefits ; (2) by redesignating section 207 as section 208; and (3) by inserting after section 206 the following: 207. Rights and protections under whistleblower protection rules (a) Rights and Protections Described (1) In general No employing office may take or fail to take, or threaten to take or fail to take, a personnel action (within the meaning of chapter 23 of title 5, United States Code) with respect to any covered employee or applicant for employment because of— (A) any disclosure of information by a covered employee or applicant which the employee or applicant reasonably believes evidences— (i) a violation of any 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, if such disclosure is not specifically prohibited by law and if such information is not specifically required by Executive order or the rules of the Senate or the House of Representatives to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs; or (B) any disclosure to the General Counsel, or to the Inspector General of a legislative or executive agency or another employee designated by the head of the legislative or executive agency to receive such disclosures, of information which the employee or applicant reasonably believes evidences— (i) a violation of any law, rule, or regulation