Obligations of Federal agencies

(a) Department of Homeland Security The Secretary of Homeland Security shall— (1) permit and facilitate the Commission’s prompt access to all Department of Homeland Security records, personnel, and facilities, including facilities operated or owned by a contractor of the Department; (2) designate an office in the Department charged with liaising with the Commission and ensuring adherence with all provisions of this Act; and (3) notify the Commission as soon as practicable, and in no case more than 12 hours after the event, of any critical firearm discharge, in-custody death, or death during an encounter with an immigration officer. (b) General Services Administration The Administrator of General Services shall provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, administrative support and other services for the performance of the Commission’s functions. Office facilities provided to the Commission under this subsection may not be shared with an entity of the executive branch. (c) Security clearances Any agency involved in reviewing applications for, granting, or revoking security clearances shall perform such functions for members and staff of the Commission in the same manner as they are performed for other Federal personnel. (d) Prohibition against retaliation (1) In general A Federal employee may not (directly or indirectly) discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, blacklist, harass, or in any other manner discriminate against a whistleblower because of any lawful act done by the whistleblower in— (A) providing information to the Commission regarding any conduct that the whistleblower reasonably believes constitutes an alleged violation of the applicable requirements; or (B) initiating, testifying in, or assisting in any Commission process, or preparing to take any such action. (2) Enforcement In addition to any other remedies otherwise available, the rights, procedures, and remedies under section 5323 of title 31, United States Code, are available and shall apply to a judicial or administrative action based on or related to information provided by a whistleblower in the same manner as such rights, procedures, and remedies apply to a covered judicial or administrative action under that section.