Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to exclude employees of the offices of Members who serve on certain committees of the House from the allotment of the number of employees of the office who may hold security clearances processed by the Office of House Security if such employees are members of the armed forces who hold a security clearance issued by the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 46
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-15: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-03T20:03:50Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This resolution (H. Res. 46) aims to update the internal rules of the U.S. House of Representatives to provide flexibility in how security clearances are managed for certain staff members. Specifically, it allows members of Congress serving on key national security and defense committees to employ active-duty military personnel who already have security clearances from the Department of Defense (DoD), without those clearances counting toward the House's internal limit on staff clearances.
Key Provisions
- Exemption from Allotment Limits: Employees of House members (including Delegates and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico) who are active-duty members of the armed forces and hold a DoD-issued security clearance are excluded when calculating the maximum number of staff in that office who can receive clearances processed by the House's Office of House Security.
- Clearance Level Restrictions: The security clearance level for these exempted employees cannot exceed the lower of:
- The level of their existing DoD clearance.
- The highest clearance level that the member's office is authorized to sponsor for its staff.
- Scope of Application: The exemption applies only to members serving on the following House committees or subcommittees, which deal with defense, intelligence, foreign affairs, and homeland security:
- Subcommittee on Defense (Appropriations Committee).
- Subcommittee on Homeland Security (Appropriations Committee).
- Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (Appropriations Committee).
- Committee on Armed Services.
- Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Committee on Homeland Security.
- Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This adds a new clause (Clause 5) to Rule XXIX of the House Rules, which previously set strict limits on the number of staff per member's office who could hold security clearances processed internally by the House.
- The change creates an exception for military personnel with pre-existing DoD clearances, allowing offices to bypass the House's processing quota without needing to alter overall staffing rules. This is a procedural tweak to House operations rather than a broad overhaul of federal law.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Reduces administrative workload for the Office of House Security by limiting the need to process duplicate clearances for military staff. It may indirectly benefit the DoD by enabling smoother integration of its personnel into congressional roles without clearance disruptions.
- On Citizens and Congress: House members on affected committees can more easily hire or assign qualified military experts to sensitive roles, potentially improving efficiency in oversight of defense and security matters. This could enhance congressional work on national security without increasing overall staff sizes.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could support more informed U.S. foreign policy decisions by facilitating access to military expertise in committees handling international affairs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- House Members and Their Offices: Primarily those serving on the listed defense, security, and foreign affairs committees, who gain flexibility in staffing.
- Military Personnel: Active-duty armed forces members working as congressional staff, who can retain their DoD clearances without additional House vetting.
- House Security Office: Benefits from fewer clearance applications but must verify eligibility for exemptions.
- Department of Defense: Sees potential for better utilization of its cleared personnel in legislative support roles.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: This is an internal House rule change, so it has no force beyond House operations and does not affect broader federal law or judicial precedents. It ensures consistency with existing DoD clearance standards, avoiding conflicts in security protocols.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under Article I to govern its internal proceedings (e.g., rules for proceedings), with no apparent infringement on separation of powers or individual rights.
- Political: Could streamline bipartisan work on national security issues by reducing bureaucratic hurdles, potentially appealing to members focused on defense efficiency. However, it raises minor questions about equity, as only specific committees benefit, which might prompt future expansions or debates on staff privileges.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-15: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.
- 2025-01-15: Submitted in House
- 2025-01-15: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to exclude employees of the offices of Members who serve on certain committees of the House from the allotment of the number of employees of the office who may hold security clearances processed by the Office of House Security if such employees are members of the armed forces who hold a security clearance issued by the Department of Defense, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-01-15 — PDF (3 pages)