		III
		111th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. CON. RES. 127
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
		  STATES

			July 10, 2009
			Received and referred to the
			 Committee on the
			 Judiciary

		CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
		Recognizing the significance of National
		  Caribbean-American Heritage Month.

		Whereas people of Caribbean heritage are found in every
			 State of the Union;
		Whereas emigration from the Caribbean region to the
			 American Colonies began as early as 1619 with the arrival of indentured workers
			 in Jamestown, Virginia;
		Whereas during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a
			 significant number of slaves from the Caribbean region were brought to the
			 United States;
		Whereas since 1820, millions of people have emigrated from
			 the Caribbean region to the United States;
		Whereas like the United States, the countries of the
			 Caribbean faced obstacles of slavery and colonialism and struggled for
			 independence;
		Whereas also like the United States, the people of the
			 Caribbean region have diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious
			 backgrounds;
		Whereas the independence movements throughout the
			 Caribbean during the 1960s and the consequential establishment of independent
			 democratic countries in the Caribbean strengthened ties between the region and
			 the United States;
		Whereas Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the
			 United States and the first Secretary of the Treasury, was born in the
			 Caribbean;
		Whereas many influential Caribbean-Americans have
			 contributed to the rich history of the United States, including Jean Baptiste
			 Pointe du Sable, the pioneer settler of Chicago; Claude McKay, a poet of the
			 Harlem Renaissance; James Weldon Johnson, the writer of the Black National
			 Anthem; Celia Cruz, the world-renowned queen of Salsa music; and Shirley
			 Chisholm, the first African-American Congresswoman and first African-American
			 woman candidate for President;
		Whereas the many influential Caribbean-Americans in the
			 history of the United States also include Colin Powell, the first
			 African-American Secretary of State; Sidney Poitier, the first African-American
			 actor to receive the Academy Award for best actor in a leading role; Harry
			 Belafonte, a musician, actor, and activist; Al Roker, a meteorologist and
			 television personality; and Roberto Clemente, the first Latino inducted into
			 the baseball hall of fame;
		Whereas Caribbean-Americans have played an active role in
			 the civil rights movement and other social and political movements in the
			 United States;
		Whereas Caribbean-Americans have contributed greatly to
			 the fine arts, education, business, literature, journalism, sports, fashion,
			 politics, government, the military, music, science, technology, and other
			 fields in the United States;
		Whereas Caribbean-Americans share their culture through
			 festivals, carnivals, music, dance, film, and literature, which enrich the
			 cultural landscape of the United States;
		Whereas the countries of the Caribbean are important
			 economic partners of the United States;
		Whereas the countries of the Caribbean represent the
			 United States’ third border;
		Whereas the people of the Caribbean region share the hopes
			 and aspirations of the people of the United States for peace and prosperity
			 throughout the Western Hemisphere and the rest of the world;
		Whereas in June 2008, President George W. Bush issued a
			 proclamation declaring June National Caribbean-American Heritage Month after
			 the passage of H. Con. Res. 71 in the 109th Congress by both the Senate and the
			 House of Representatives; and
		Whereas June is an appropriate month to establish a
			 Caribbean-American Heritage Month: Now, therefore, be it

		That Congress—
			(1)supports the goals and ideals of
			 Caribbean-American Heritage Month;
			(2)encourages the
			 people of the United States to observe Caribbean-American Heritage Month with
			 appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and activities; and
			(3)affirms
			 that—
				(A)the contributions
			 of Caribbean-Americans are a significant part of the history, progress, and
			 heritage of the United States; and
				(B)the ethnic and
			 racial diversity of the United States enriches and strengthens the
			 Nation.

			Passed the House of
			 Representatives July 9, 2009.
			Lorraine C. Miller,
			Clerk


114 HR 3505 : Department of Homeland Security Clearance Management and Administration Act
U.S. House of Representatives
2015-11-03
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

		IIB
		114th CONGRESS
		1st Session
		H. R. 3505
		IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
		November 3, 2015Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental AffairsAN ACT
		To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to improve the management and administration of the
			 security clearance processes throughout the Department of Homeland
			 Security, and for other purposes.

 1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Department of Homeland Security Clearance Management and Administration Act. 2.Security clearance management and administration (a)In generalTitle VII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended—
 (1)by inserting before section 701 (6 U.S.C. 341) the following:  AHeadquarters Activities; and(2)by adding at the end the following new subtitle:

						BSecurity Clearances
							711.Designation of national security sensitive and public trust positions
 (a)In generalThe Secretary shall require the designation of the sensitivity level of national security positions (pursuant to part 1400 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or similar successor regulation) be conducted in a consistent manner with respect to all components and offices of the Department, and consistent with Federal guidelines.
 (b)ImplementationIn carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall require the utilization of uniform designation tools throughout the Department and provide training to appropriate staff of the Department on such utilization. Such training shall include guidance on factors for determining eligibility for access to classified information and eligibility to hold a national security position.
								712.Review of position designations
 (a)In generalNot later than July 6, 2017, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary shall review all sensitivity level designations of national security positions (pursuant to part 1400 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or similar successor regulation) at the Department.
 (b)DeterminationIf during the course of a review required under subsection (a), the Secretary determines that a change in the sensitivity level of a position that affects the need for an individual to obtain access to classified information is warranted, such access shall be administratively adjusted and an appropriate level periodic reinvestigation completed, as necessary.
 (c)Congressional reportingUpon completion of each review required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall report to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate on the findings of each such review, including the number of positions by classification level and by component and office of the Department in which the Secretary made a determination in accordance with subsection (b) to—
 (1)require access to classified information; (2)no longer require access to classified information; or
 (3)otherwise require a different level of access to classified information. 713.AuditsBeginning not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Inspector General of the Department shall conduct regular audits of compliance of the Department with part 1400 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or similar successor regulation.
							714.Reporting
 (a)In generalThe Secretary shall annually through fiscal year 2021 submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the following:
 (1)The number of denials, suspensions, revocations, and appeals of the eligibility for access to classified information of an individual throughout the Department.
 (2)The date and status or disposition of each reported action under paragraph (1). (3)The identification of the sponsoring entity, whether by a component, office, or headquarters of the Department, of each action under paragraph (1), and description of the grounds for each such action.
 (4)Demographic data, including data relating to race, sex, national origin, and disability, of each individual for whom eligibility for access to classified information was denied, suspended, revoked, or appealed, and the number of years that each such individual was eligible for access to such information.
 (5)In the case of a suspension in excess of 180 days, an explanation for such duration. (b)FormThe report required under subsection (a) shall be submitted in unclassified form and be made publicly available, but may include a classified annex for any sensitive or classified information if necessary.
 715.Uniform adjudication, suspension, denial, and revocationNot later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Homeland Security Advisory Committee, shall develop a plan to achieve greater uniformity within the Department with respect to the adjudication of eligibility of an individual for access to classified information that are consistent with the Adjudicative Guidelines for Determining Access to Classified Information published on December 29, 2005, or similar successor regulation. The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate the plan. The plan shall consider the following:
 (1)Mechanisms to foster greater compliance with the uniform Department adjudication, suspension, denial, and revocation standards by the head of each component and office of the Department with the authority to adjudicate access to classified information.
 (2)The establishment of an internal appeals panel responsible for final national security clearance denial and revocation determinations that is comprised of designees who are career, supervisory employees from components and offices of the Department with the authority to adjudicate access to classified information and headquarters, as appropriate.
 716.Data protectionThe Secretary shall ensure that all information received for the adjudication of eligibility of an individual for access to classified information that is consistent with the Adjudicative Guidelines for Determining Access to Classified Information published on December 29, 2005, or similar successor regulation, and is protected against misappropriation.
 717.ReferenceExcept as otherwise provided, for purposes of this subtitle, any reference to the Department includes all components and offices of the Department.. (b)Clerical amendmentThe table of contents of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended—
 (1)by inserting before the item relating to section 701 the following new item:   Subtitle A—Headquarters Activities; and(2)by inserting after the item relating to section 707 the following new items:

							Subtitle B—Security Clearances
							Sec. 711. Designation of national security sensitive and public trust positions.
							Sec. 712. Review of position designations.
							Sec. 713. Audits.
							Sec. 714. Reporting.
							Sec. 715. Uniform adjudication, suspension, denial, and revocation.
							Sec. 716. Data protection.
							Sec. 717. Reference..

	Passed the House of Representatives November 2, 2015.Karen L. Haas,Clerk