Securely Expediting Clearances Through Reporting Transparency Act of 2018

Bill: 115-hr-3210
Sponsor: Rep. Knight, Stephen [R-CA-25]
Introduced: 2017-07-12 in the House
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Summary:
action_date: 2017-07-12
text: 

Securely Expediting Clearances Through Reporting Transparency Act of 2017 or the SECRET Act of 2017

 
This bill requires the Office of Personnel Management's National Background Investigations Bureau to report on the backlog of security clearance investigations. 

action_date: 2017-07-25
text: 

Securely Expediting Clearances Through Reporting Transparency Act of 2017 or the SECRET Act of 2017

 
(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Office of Personnel Management's National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) to report on the backlog of security clearance investigations. 
 
(Sec. 3) Additionally, the NBIB must report on the process for conducting and adjudicating security clearance investigations for personnel in the Executive Office of the President.
 
(Sec. 4) Finally, the NBIB must report on the duplicative costs of implementing a plan for the Defense Security Service to conduct, after October 1, 2017, security investigations for Department of Defense (DOD) personnel whose investigations are adjudicated by DOD's Consolidated Adjudication Facility. 

action_date: 2017-07-26
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 25, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Securely Expediting Clearances Through Reporting Transparency Act of 2017 or the SECRET Act of 2017

 
(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Office of Personnel Management's National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) to report on the backlog of security clearance investigations. 
 
(Sec. 3) Additionally, the NBIB must report on the process for conducting and adjudicating security clearance investigations for personnel in the Executive Office of the President.
 
(Sec. 4) Finally, the NBIB must report on the duplicative costs of implementing a plan for the Defense Security Service to conduct, after October 1, 2017, security investigations for Department of Defense (DOD) personnel whose investigations are adjudicated by DOD's Consolidated Adjudication Facility. 

action_date: 2017-11-27
text: 

Securely Expediting Clearances Through Reporting Transparency Act of 2017 or the SECRET Act of 2017

 
(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Office of Personnel Management's National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) to report on the backlog of security clearance investigations. The report must include a backlog mitigation plan identifying the cause of, and making recommendations to remedy, the backlog.
 
(Sec. 3) The Executive Office of the President must report on the process for conducting and adjudicating security clearance investigations for the President's staff.
 
(Sec. 4) The Office of Management and Budget must report on the costs of duplicating NBIB resources to implement a specified plan for the Department of Defense (DOD) to conduct security investigations for DOD personnel. 
 
(Sec. 5) The NBIB must report on: (1) the status of implementing government-wide continuous evaluation programs, (2) efforts by federal agencies to meet requirements for reciprocal recognition to access classified information, (3) recommendations to improve background investigations, and (4) whether the schedule for processing security clearances should be modified.
 
(Sec. 6) The President must review and, if appropriate, update the guidance issued to assist agencies in determining: (1) position sensitivity designation, and (2) the appropriate background investigation to initiate for each position designation. The President must report on any issues identified in, and the number of position designations revised as a result of, the review.

action_date: 2018-03-15
text: 

Securely Expediting Clearances Through Reporting Transparency Act of 

2018

 or the SECRET Act of 

2018
 
(Sec. 3) This bill requires the National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) within the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to report on its backlog of security clearance investigations. The report must include a backlog mitigation plan identifying the cause of, and making recommendations to remedy, the backlog.
 
(Sec. 4) The Executive Office of the President must report on the process for conducting and adjudicating security clearance investigations for the President's staff.
 
(Sec. 5) The OPM must report on the costs of maintaining comprehensive background investigations capability within both the NBIB and the Department of Defense, compared to the costs of sustaining a single government-wide background investigations enterprise. 
 
(Sec. 6) The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) must report on: (1) the status of implementing government-wide continuous evaluation programs, (2) efforts by federal agencies to meet requirements for reciprocal recognition to access classified information, and (3) whether the schedule for processing security clearances should be modified.
 
(Sec. 7) The ODNI and the OPM must review and make recommendations to Congress and the President, as appropriate, to issue guidance to assist agencies in determining: (1) position sensitivity designation, and (2) the appropriate background investigation to initiate for each position designation. The President must report on any issues identified in, and the number of position designations revised as a result of, the review.

action_date: 2018-05-07
text: 

Securely Expediting Clearances Through Reporting Transparency Act of 

2018

 or the SECRET Act of 

2018
 
 
(Sec. 3) This bill requires the National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) within the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to report on its backlog of security clearance investigations. The report must include a backlog mitigation plan identifying the cause of, and making recommendations to remedy, the backlog.
 
(Sec. 4) The Executive Office of the President must report on the process for conducting and adjudicating security clearance investigations for the President's staff.
 
(Sec. 5) The OPM must report on the costs of maintaining comprehensive background investigations capability within both the NBIB and the Department of Defense, compared to the costs of sustaining a single government-wide background investigations enterprise. 
 
(Sec. 6) The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) must report on: (1) the status of implementing government-wide continuous evaluation programs, (2) efforts by federal agencies to meet requirements for reciprocal recognition to access classified information, and (3) whether the schedule for processing security clearances should be modified.
 
(Sec. 7) The ODNI and the OPM must review and make recommendations to Congress and the President, as appropriate, to issue guidance to assist agencies in determining: (1) position sensitivity designation, and (2) the appropriate background investigation to initiate for each position designation. The President must report on any issues identified in, and the number of position designations revised as a result of, the review.

action_date: 2018-05-22
text: 

Securely Expediting Clearances Through Reporting Transparency Act of 

2018

 or the SECRET Act of 

2018
 
(Sec. 3) This bill requires the National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) within the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to report on its backlog of security clearance investigations. The report must include a backlog mitigation plan identifying the cause of, and making recommendations to remedy, the backlog.
 
(Sec. 4) The Executive Office of the President must report on the process for conducting and adjudicating security clearance investigations for the President's staff.
 
(Sec. 5) The OPM must report on the costs of maintaining comprehensive background investigations capability within both the NBIB and the Department of Defense, compared to the costs of sustaining a single government-wide background investigations enterprise. 
 
(Sec. 6) The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) must report on: (1) the status of implementing government-wide continuous evaluation programs, (2) efforts by federal agencies to meet requirements for reciprocal recognition to access classified information, and (3) whether the schedule for processing security clearances should be modified.
 
(Sec. 7) The ODNI and the OPM must review and make recommendations to Congress and the President, as appropriate, to issue guidance to assist agencies in determining: (1) position sensitivity designation, and (2) the appropriate background investigation to initiate for each position designation. The President must report on any issues identified in, and the number of position designations revised as a result of, the review.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2018-05-22
text: Became Public Law No: 115-173.
action_date: 2018-05-22
text: Became Public Law No: 115-173.
action_date: 2018-05-22
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2018-05-22
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2018-05-10
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2018-05-10
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection. (text as House agreed to Senate amendment)
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.(text as House agreed to Senate amendment)
action_date: 2018-05-07
text: Mr. Russell asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's Table and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H3760-3761)
action_date: 2018-03-15
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2018-03-15
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S1768-1769)
action_date: 2018-03-15
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S1768-1769)
action_date: 2018-03-15
text: The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2018-03-15
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S1768-1770)
action_date: 2017-11-27
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 264.
action_date: 2017-11-27
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-185.
action_date: 2017-11-27
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-185.
action_date: 2017-10-04
text: Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2017-07-27
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
action_date: 2017-07-26
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2017-07-26
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6327)
action_date: 2017-07-26
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6327)
action_date: 2017-07-26
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3210.
action_date: 2017-07-26
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6327-6328)
action_date: 2017-07-26
text: Mr. Mitchell moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2017-07-25
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 188.
action_date: 2017-07-25
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-258.
action_date: 2017-07-25
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-258.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2017-07-19
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-07-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
action_date: 2017-07-12
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-07-12
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 115-173