Protecting Access to Classified Information in Elections Act

Bill: 115-hr-6429
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
Introduced: 2018-07-18
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Elections, voting, political campaign regulation

Government information and archives

Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information

Political parties and affiliation

Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Latest action: action_date: 2018-07-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-07-18
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Protecting Access to Classified Information in Elections Act</strong></p> <p>This bill amends the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to authorize certain candidates for President or Vice President to request a security clearance. Candidates must be the nominees of a major party or on the election ballot in at least 10 states to qualify. The federal government must expeditiously conduct background investigations and eligibility determinations for qualified candidates.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6429 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 18, 2018 Mr. Huffman (for himself, Mr. Jeffries , and Mr. Johnson of Georgia ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform , and in addition to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select) , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 to authorize candidates in a presidential election campaign to request a security clearance.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Access to Classified Information in Elections Act . 2. Security clearances for candidates during presidential election campaigns (a) In general The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ( Public Law 108–458 ; 118 Stat. 3856) is amended by inserting after section 7601 the following new section: 7602. Security clearances for candidates during presidential election campaigns (a) Security clearance An eligible candidate may request a security clearance. (b) Procedures To the extent practicable pursuant to existing procedures and requirements, the appropriate agencies and departments of the Federal Government shall expeditiously provide the necessary background investigations and eligibility determinations with respect to a request for a security clearance by an eligible candidate under subsection (a). (c) Disclosure (1) List Beginning not later than January 1 of each year in which a presidential election is held, the Director shall maintain on a publicly accessible internet website of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence a list of each eligible candidate who— (A) is granted a security clearance pursuant to a request under subsection (a); and (B) provides written consent to the Director to make public the status of such request. (2) Updates The Director shall update the list under paragraph (1) not later than 7 days after the date on which the Director receives the written consent of a candidate under subparagraph (B) of such paragraph. (d) Eligible candidate defined The term eligible candidate means a candidate for election to the office of President of the United States or the office of Vice President of the United States described in section 9002(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents at the beginning of such Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7601 the following new item: Sec. 7602. Security clearances for candidates during presidential election campaigns. .