A small provision sponsored by Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) in the new Energy Policy Act (H.R. 6) would prohibit the Energy Department from reimbursing contractors defending themselves from wrongfully terminated or persecuted whistleblowers. Currently the government can reimburse contractor companies for their legal fees while whistleblowers must pay all expenses on their own. This encourages extended court battles where even after winning in court, a whistleblower could face appeal after appeal with the taxpayers footing the contactor's bill the entire way.