Department of Homeland Security Clearance Management and Administration Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 424, the Department of Homeland Security Clearance Management and Administration Act.

President Trump has directed a major security clearance and background information overhaul across the executive branch. This effort is underway, and significant progress has been made to reduce the backlog and improve the quality of background investigations. The bill we are considering today complements this initiative.

H.R. 424 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct an inventory of the department's positions that require security clearances, which currently number over 100,000, and determine what positions may be duplicative or are no longer necessary. It is just good government to periodically review the positions that require a ``need to know'' and to ensure DHS is not allocating funds for unnecessary background investigations. Security clearances are costly to investigate, adjudicate, and maintain.

The bill would ensure that DHS conducts a thorough accounting of its workforce needs and reduces the number of positions with security clearances if determined appropriate. The bill would also require additional transparency on how security clearances are adjudicated, including when there are reasons to suspend or deny a security clearance.

Chairman Thompson's legislation is an example of the accounting that each Federal department should be conducting today and would lead to a leaner and more secure Department of Homeland Security.

Mr. Speaker, the bill is identical to the version the House passed last Congress, and I would just reiterate this is good government, bipartisan legislation. I urge its support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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