Legislation by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii to strengthen federal whistleblower protections has passed the Senate and awaits an uncertain fate in the House.

It proposes to clarify protections for U.S. workers when disclosing waste, fraud or abuse, and to extend whistleblower provisions and nondiscrimination laws to Transportation Security Administration employees.

It also would allow more federal courts to hear whistleblower cases over the next five years, and bar retaliation against intelligence agency employees for whistleblowing.

The measure easily passed the Senate Friday.

The House approved another version last year. Akaka hopes the House will pass the Senate version before it adjourns in the next week or so.