The Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 is a United States federal law that seeks to discourage federal managers and supervisors from engaging in unlawful discrimination and retaliation. It is popularly called the No-FEAR Act, and is also known as Public Law 107–174.
Enactment
On August 18, 2000, a federal jury found the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guilty of violating the civil rights of Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo on the basis of race, sex, color and a hostile work environment, under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. She was awarded $600,000. The EPA had refused to promote Coleman-Adebayo shortly after she alleged the presence of environmental and health problems at the Brits, South Africa, vanadium mines.[1]
Sparked by this outcome, Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee introduced the No-FEAR Act into Congress. Dr. Coleman-Adebayo founded the No FEAR Institute to organize support for the bill's purposes while continuing to work for the EPA.[1] The No FEAR Institute spearheaded the No FEAR Coalition to advocate for passage of the Act.[citation needed]
President George W. Bush signed it into law on May 15, 2002, making it the first United States civil rights law of the 21st Century.[2]
Criticism
Marsha Coleman-Adebayo and others have criticized implementation of the No-FEAR Act on grounds that agencies are abusing the provision allowing them a "reasonable" time to make their reimbursements to the General Fund of the Treasury. They have proposed a No-FEAR II Act to set a time limit for such reimbursements, and to increase the penalties for violations.[citation needed]
Book and movie
Coleman-Adebayo wrote a book about her experience[3] which as of 2014 is in the process of being adapted into the movie The Marsha Coleman-Adebayo Story[4] with producer and actor Danny Glover.[1][needs update]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Fears, Darryl (10 July 2006). "Coming Soon: A Tale of Whistle-Blowing at the EPA". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286.
- ^ "Discrimination, Whistleblower, and Civil Rights Statutes,"
- ^ "NO FEAR, THE BOOK - Marsha Coleman-Adebayo". www.marshacoleman-adebayo.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-12.
- ^ "No Fear, the Film". Archived from the original on 2019-08-27. Retrieved 2014-11-06.