In-Depth: Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) reintroduced this bill from the 115th Congress to streamline the security clearance process at DHS. When this bill passed the House in the 115th Congress, Rep. Thompson said:

“This legislation passed today seeks to improve how DHS manages its clearance process at all stages—from decisions on whether to designate positions as requiring clearances to ensuring uniformity in how clearances are adjudicated, suspended, denied, and revoked. My bill will make DHS a leader among Federal agencies with respect to security clearance and position designations practices. It is critical we put DHS on a path to right-sizing the number of classified positions in its workforce.  I thank my colleagues for supporting it and urge the Senate to recognize the necessity to pass this legislation.”

In the current Congress, this bill has one cosponsor, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL). In the previous Congress, it passed the House by a voice vote with no cosponsors. It also passed the House in the 114th Congress. In each of the past two Congresses, it hasn’t passed in the Senate.

Of Note: In March 2018, the House Homeland Security Committee’s Oversight and Management Efficiency subcommittee held a hearing on the security clearance process at DHS. A panel of experts with experience working in and around government highlighted DHS’ failures to offer timely suitability determinations, meaning that it may take months for candidates to know if they’d even be considered for positions. Multiple panelists suggested:

• Eliminating fitness requirements to individuals who already have a security clearance; Creating uniform fitness and suitability standards across DHS;

• Mandating suitability reciprocity across organizations in the federal government; and

• Creating department-wide standards for all suitability determinations at DHS.

Media:

• House Homeland Security Committee Press Release (115th Congress)

• CBO Cost Estimate (114th Congress)