Four senators have introduced a bill to strengthen protections for military whistleblowers. They say it will encourage service members to report sexual assault as well as fraud, waste and abuse. Among the groups applauding the measure is the Government Accountability Project. It has called the current law “toothless.” Legal Director Tom Devine says the problem with the current law is it has limited free speech rights.

The Patent and Trademark Office has inked a deal for a permanent home in the world capital of patent filings, Silicon Valley. The expansion had been planned for some time but was delayed because of sequestration. Now the city of San Jose is donating space in its city hall. PTO says it will put more than 80 patent judges and reviewers there. Michelle Lee is the director of the growing Silicon Valley Patent and Trademark Office.

The Defense Department says it’s committed to a future in which service members and civilian employees use the latest, greatest mobile technology to do their work. But it’s still struggling with a fundamental challenge: identity management. More from Federal News Radio’s DoD reporter, Jared Serbu.