; and (II) be reimbursed for— (aa) attorney fees, back pay, and related benefits in accordance with section 5596 of title 5, United States Code; and (bb) medical costs incurred, travel expenses, any other reasonable and foreseeable consequential damages, and compensatory damages (including interest, reasonable expert witness fees, and costs). (h) EEOC appeals Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 717 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e–16 ), an individual who is an employee (or an applicant for a position as an employee) and who alleges that the individual was subject to an adverse personnel action that is a prohibited personnel action described in section 2302(b)(1) of title 5, United States Code, shall seek relief for that action from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as if that individual were an employee of an employer, as that term is defined in section 701 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000e ).